AND
THE
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON OUARTERLI
JULY - AUGUST - SEPTEMBER -1972
Thirteenth Sabbath Overflow Offering
September 30, 1972
Southern Asia Division
On September 30 the Southern Asia Division will benefit from
the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering Overflow. According to General
Conference policy, the overflow is 25 percent of the total offering
taken for Thirteenth Sabbath. The Southern Asia Division plans
to use this money for the addition of much needed facilities at the
following educational institutions:
Burma Union Bible Seminary
Kottarakara High School, India
Roorkee High School, India
Recognizing that the future of the work in Southern Asia is de-
pendent to a large extent on the proper education of the young
people of the church, for a number of years this division has de-
voted most of the overflow offerings to education. This has already
begun to pay off.
For the generosity of Sabbath School members the world around,
Southern Asia is indeed very grateful. Now again in this time of
great need we anticipate that you will come to the aid of the young
people of the church. For this September 30 overflow, Southern Asia
thanks you in advance.
Lessons for the Fourth Quarter of 1972
Sabbath School members who have not received an adult
Lesson Quarterly
for the fourth quarter of 1972 will be
helped by the following outline in studying for the first les-
son. The title of the series is "Awaiting the Advent." The
title of the first lesson is "The Christian's Hope." The mem-
ory verse is Titus 2:13.
The outline is as follows: (1) The Redeemer. Matt. 24:1, 2.
(2) The Restorer. Acts 3:20, 21. (3) The Lifegiver. 1 'Mess.
4:16, 17. (4) The King. Rev. 19:11, 16. (5) The Rewarder.
Rev. 22:12. (6) The Son of Man. Matt. 24:30.
W. F. Storz
Sabbath School Secretary
Southern Asia Division
Litho in U.S.A.
Christ and the Sabbath
THIRD QUARTER, 1972
INTRODUCTION
Regardless of what a person's religious views are, he knows that a wave of
lawlessness, rebellion, and strife is sweeping over the world. This is a prelude
to that climactic, world-ending time of trouble spoken of in Daniel 12:1.
This in turn should make Sabbath keepers keenly aware that now is the
time to proclaim the Sabbath more fully, as mentioned in
Early Writings,
page 33: "At the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with
the Holy Ghost as we went forth and
proclaimed the Sabbath more fully."
(Italics supplied.)
The Sabbath truth must be preached more extensively and in more and
more geographical areas. Also it should be proclaimed in its fuller spiritual
significance, in relationship to the Lord Jesus and His righteousness.
There is a connection between observing the Sabbath as a seal of righteous-
ness by faith, and the glory of Christ's righteousness, which shall enlighten
the entire world (Rev. 18:1) and complete the proclamation of the gospel.
Then multitudes of true Christians in the various religious bodies will see
that the Lord of the Sabbath is Christ our Creator and Saviour-Sanctifier.
They will recognize that keeping the true Sabbath of Christ is the natural
expression and fruitage of having Him as one's personal Saviour. They will
see that true Sabbath observance is the divinely appointed si
g
n of a Christian's
continuing, progressive sanctification. Then many sincere hristians, includ-
ing some ministers and other leaders, will take their stand under the banner
of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Rev. 18:1-4.
Concerning last-day movements,
Selected Messages,
Bk. 2, p. 55, says that
God's people "will find their power in the sign spoken of in Exodus 31:12-18."
The Sabbath bears the stamp of Christ as our Creator and Sanctifier. This
should motivate God's people to present the Sabbath more fully everywhere
as the sign of our allegiance to God's will.
The Sabbath truth is part of the setting of the threefold message of Reve-
lation 14:6-12 for the last days. Before Seventh-day Adventists were in ex-
istence as a separate body of Christian people, this message came, and it has
made them what they are today. Hence an understanding of this truth for
our time is basic and vital.
We shall receive help and be blessed during this quarter as we study Christ
in the Sabbath and the Sabbath in Christ.
1-A3QT.72
The Blessing of Daily Study
"Every day some portion of time should be appropri-
ated to the study of the lessons, not merely in learning to
mechanically repeat the words, while the mind does not
comprehend the meaning; but to go to the very founda-
tion, and become familiar with what is brought out in
the
lesson."—Counsels on Sabbath School Work,
page 53.
My Pledge
As one who greatly desires to improve his knowledge
of the Scriptures, I pledge myself to the careful and
prayerful study of some portion of my Sabbath School
lesson each day of the week.
(signed)
The regular Sabbath School senior division lessons and reg-
ular Sabbath School World Mission Report are available free
each month in Braille and 16
2
/
3
rpm records to blind and phys-
ically handicapped persons who cannot read normal inkprint.
This includes individuals who because of arthritis, multiple
sclerosis, paralysis, accidents, old age, and so forth, cannot hold
or focus on normal inkprint publications. Contact the Christian
Record Braille Foundation, Box 6097, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506.
Lesson Titles for the Quarter
1.
Christ's Sign
2.
Christ's Everlasting Memorial
3.
A Link of Love
4.
A Bulwark of Truth
5.
The Missing Text
6.
The Attempted Change
7.
Why Not Any Day?
8.
Right Day—Wrong Way
9.
Receiving the Double Blessing
10.
A Sign of Righteousness by Faith
11.
The Predicted Restoration
12.
Truth for Today
13.
The Final Test
14.
The Forgotten Blessing
Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly (regular edition), No. 309, July-September, 1972. 35 cents a
single copy, $1.40 a year (four issues); no additional charge to countries requiring extra postage.
Published in the U.S.A. by Pacific Press Publishing Association (a corporation of S.D.A.), 1350
Villa Street, Mountain View, California 94040. Second-class mail privileges authorized at Mountain
View, California. Form 3579 requested. When a change of address is desired, please be sure to send
both old and new addresses.
Copyright, 1972, by Pacific Press Publishing
Association
Illustrations by James Converse
June 25 to July I
LESSON 1
CHRIST'S SIGN 1
God Rests on the Sabbath Day
"Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you
throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth
sanctify you." Ex. 31:13.
When a person truly hallows the Sab-
bath of Christ, he displays in the affairs of
his daily life a sign inscribed, "The seventh
day is the Sabbath of the Lord. Remember
your Creator and Saviour." In direct op-
position, the god of this world has erected
a sign inscribed, "Sunday is the Lord's
day."
In these last days God is sending the final
call of the gospel to every people. Rev.
14:6-12. Where heeded, it leads people to
make the right choice between these two
opposing signs of authority. This message
from heaven for our day enables the obe-
dient to decide in favor of the Lord Jesus
Christ and take their stand among those
"that keep the commandments of God, and
the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Christ the Creator
John 1:10
2.
Creator Existent From Eternity
John 1:1, 3, 14
3.
Redemption Is Re-creation
2 Cor. 5:17, RSV
4.
A Predetermined Plan
2 Tim. 1:9
5.
A Sign of the Creator
Ex. 31:15-17
6.
A Sign of the Saviour
Ezek. 20:12
5
Christ's Sign
LESSON 1
❑
Sunday
June 25
Part 1
"He [Christ] was in the world, and the world was made
CHRIST THE by him, and the world knew him not."
CREATOR
John 1:10
who walked among men at His first advent, is the One who
Here is a positive declaration that the Lord Jesus Christ,
made this world.
Millions of professed Christians apparently are unaware of
the role of Christ as the Creator. They think of Him only as the
Saviour.
It is essential that a person be fully committed to Christ as
his only Saviour. Acts 16:30, 31; 4:12 ; John 14:6. But the
adequacy of Christ as the only true Saviour rests upon two
everlasting foundation truths of the gospel: (1) The eternity of
Christ as God the Son and as the Son of God; (2) The role of
Christ as the Creator-God of Genesis 1 and 2.
What indicates that Christ the Saviour is also the Crea-
tor of all? Col. 1:13-16.
Most assuredly we are saved by the perfect life of Christ,
His atoning death, His resurrection, His ascension, and His
intercession as our High Priest. If He had not been one with
God from eternity and co-Creator in the beginning, He could
not be man's Saviour.
How does the Word of God show further that Christ
was associated with the Father as the co-Creator of all
things? 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 3:9; John 1:1-3.
THINK IT THROUGH
Why have all the Father's dealings with this world
been through His Son?
"It was Christ that spread the heav-
ens, and laid the foundations of the
earth. It was His hand that hung the
worlds in space, and fashioned the
flowers of the field. 'His strength setteth
fast the mountains."The sea is His, and
He made it.' Ps. 65:6; 95:5. It was He
that fulled the earth with beauty, and
the air with song. And upon all things
in earth, and air, and sky, He wrote the
message of the Father's love."—"The
Desire of Ages," page 20.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "Patriarchs and Prophets," chapter 2.
6
Part 2
CREATOR
EXISTENT FROM
ETERNITY
John 1:1, 3, 14
❑
Monday
June 26
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God."
"All things were made by him; and without him was
not any thing made that was made."
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."
The Gospel of John is an outstanding Biblical presentation
of Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God and the Saviour of
men. How does it begin? Christ is introduced as one with God
from eternity and as the Creator of the universe. He is pre-
sented as the Word, who was with God the Father in the be-
ginning, and as one who was God. Christ is coeternal and
coexistent with God the Father.
Another tremendous truth is the fact that Christ is the
Creator of the universe. "All things were made by him; and
without him was not any thing made that was made." John 1:3.
Christ's Sign
LESSON 1
How do we know that this Word, the Creator, is also
Christ our Saviour? John 1:10, 14.
John presents Christ as our Creator and Saviour, and as
existing with God from the beginning. Preaching Christ must
not omit presenting Him as God the Son from eternity and as
the Creator of all. To preach Christ without making this clear
would be like trying to build a house without a foundation.
Notice that in Heb. 1:1-3 the One who has purged us from
our sins is the Son of God by whom the worlds were made.
How does God the Father attest that Christ is the
Maker of heaven and earth? Heb. 1:8-12.
THINK IT THROUGH
Why did the Father allocate to the Son an active role
in creation? What bearing does this have on our salva-
tion through Christ?
"The Son of God had wrought the
He
would not seek power or exaltation
Father's will in the creation of all the
for Himself contrary to God's plan, but
hosts of heaven; and to Him, as well as
would exalt the Father's glory and ex-
to God, their homage and allegiance ecute His purposes of beneficence and
were due. Christ was still to exercise
love."—"Patriarchs and Prophets," page
divine power, in the creation of the
36.
earth and its inhabitants. But in all this
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "Patriarchs and Prophets," pages 33, 34.
7
Christ's Sign
LESSON 1
❑
Tuesday
June 27
Part 3
"Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new crea-
REDEMPTION IS tion; the old has passed away, behold, the new has
RE-CREATION come."
2 Cor. 5:17, RSV
Salvation is effected, in part, by a work .of creation in the
sinner by the same Christ who made man in the beginning.
Christians are declared to be Christ's workmanship, created in
Him unto good works. Eph. 2:10. He imparts His character
to us. Heb. 8:10, 11.
This is why every soul is dependent upon Christ for salva-
tion. This shows also that Christ is our Saviour, because He
is the Creator. For the salvation of man it is essential that both
creation and redemption be accomplished by the Son of God
—the Lord Jesus Christ.
t).
Why does salvation from sin require more than for-
giveness? John 3:3; Eph. 4:22-24.
When the believer truly receives Christ as his personal Sav-
iour, not only is free and full pardon granted to him, but he
is trar
211=zied into a new person. He is born again, born of
God. John 1:12, 13. Christ creates within him a new heart,
a new_ mind.
--
Then by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit the believer is
enabled to live a life of obedience to Christ and His command-
ments. Ezek. 11:19, 20; Gal. 2:20. This is how Christ brings
the believer into harmony with God and keeps him right. Thus
Christ as our Creator cannot be detached from Christ as our
Redeemer.
THINK IT THROUGH
Why does the acceptance of Christ as our Saviour nec-
essarily include honoring Him as our Creator? What are
the main reasons why millions of professed Christians
have lost sight of Him as Maker of the worlds?
"The angels prostrated themselves at
the feet of their Commander and of-
fered to become a sacrifice for man.
But an angel's life could not pay the
debt; only He who created man had
power to redeem him. Yet the angels
were to have a part to act in the plan
of redemption. Christ was to be made
'a little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death.' Hebrews 2:9. As He
should take human nature upon Him,
His strength would not be equal to
theirs, and they were to minister to
Him, to strengthen and soothe Him un-
der His sufferings. They were also to
be ministering spirits, sent forth to min-
ister for them who should be heirs of
salvation. Hebrews 1:14. They would
guard the subjects of grace from the
power of evil angels and from the dark-
ness constantly thrown around them by
Satan."—"Patriarchs and Prophets,"
pages 64, 65.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "Patriarchs and Prophets," chapter 4.
a
Part 4
A PREDETERMINED
PLAN
2 Tim. 1:9
THINK IT THROUGH
Christ's Sign
LESSON 1
El Wednesday
June 28
"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy call-
ing, not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began."
God's plan for the salvation of believers antedates the crea-
tion of this world. He has saved us according to His own pur-
pose given us in Christ before the world began. See also Eph.
1:4, 5 ; Titus 1:2.
This helps us understand why God the Father allocated the
creation of all to the Son—the Lord Jesus Christ. Our salvation
was at stake. Only He who can create can save from sin and
death. The fact that Christ was the Creator meant that salva-
tion was available in Him when it should be needed.
When Adam sinned, his Creator began to function as his
Saviour. Thus Jesus Christ is "the Lamb slain from the foun-
dation of the world." Rev. 13:8. See also 1 Peter 1:18-20.
When man sinned, no created being could satisfy the claims
of the broken law of God. Only one equal with God could make
atonement for the transgression. Hence no one but the Lord
Jesus Christ, as Creator, could offer Himself as a sufficient ran-
som for sinful man. This thought should kindle a deeper love
in our hearts for the Father and the Son for Their predeter-
mined plan by which our omnipotent Creator became our
all-sufficient Creator and Saviour.
When was the gospel first outlined? Gen. 3:15.
How have millions of believers deprived themselves
of much by limiting their concept of Christ to what hap-
pened during His earthly life? Rom. 11:33; Eph. 1:18;
3:18-21.
In what ways do we demonstrate our faith in Jesus
as our Creator and Saviour? Has His ministry on behalf
of man been lost sight of by the vast majority of Chris-
tians? How is this truth being restored to its rightful place
in the gospel?
"The broken law of God demanded
the life of the sinner. In all the universe
there was but one who could, in behalf
of man, satisfy its claims. Since the
divine law is as sacred as God Himself,
only one equal with God could make
FOR
FURTHER STUDY:
"The Desire of Ages," chapter 1.
9
atonement for its transgression. None
but Christ could redeem fallen man
from the curse of the law and bring
him again into harmony with Heaven."
—"Patriarchs and Prophets," page 63.
❑
Thursday
June
29
"Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the
sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord.... It is a sign between
me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the
Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day
he rested, and was refreshed."
The Lord declares that the seventh-day Sabbath is a sign
between Him and His people because He made the world in
six days and rested on the seventh day. The New Testament
shows that this Lord who made the world in six days and
rested on the seventh day is our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus Ex.
31:16, 17 and Mark 2:27, 28 show that the seventh-day Sabbath
is a sign of Christ as our Creator.
Sunday is not the Sabbath of Christ, nor the Lord's day.
It is the first day of the week. The Lord Himself says, "The
seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord." Ex. 20:10. Hence the
seventh day, or Saturday, is Christ's Sabbath for man.
How does the Bible imply that the command in Ex.
20:8-11 to keep the seventh day is a command from the
Lord Jesus Christ? Compare Neh. 9:12, 13 with 1 Cor.
10:1-4.
Part 5
A SIGN OF
THE CREATOR
Ex. 31:15-17
Christ's Sign
LESSON 1-
The Lord who in the Ten Commandments commands the
keeping of the seventh day is our Creator. See Ex. 20:10, 11.
The New Testament declares that Christ is our Creator, and
the precept recorded in Ex. 20:8-11—to keep the seventh day
holy—is a commandment from our Lord Jesus Christ. The ob-
servance of the seventh day is one step in our accepting Christ.
How important is it for us to obey Christ's command-
ments? Heb. 5:9.
THINK IT THROUGH
Christ has appointed the keeping of the seventh day as a
sign whereby we honor and worship Him as our Creator and
Saviour. What a high privilege it is to keep His Sabbath !
What makes Sabbath keeping an appropriate way to
honor and worship the Lord Jesus?
"Since He made all things, He made
the Sabbath. By Him it was set apart
as a memorial of the work of creation.
It points to Him as both the Creator and
the Sanctifier. It declares that He who
created all things in heaven and in
earth, and by whom all things hold to-
gether, is the head of the church, and
that by His power we are reconciled to
God."—"The Desire of Ages," page 288.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages," pages 281-283.
10
Christ's Sign
LESSON 1
Part 6
A SIGN OF
THE SAVIOUR
Ezek. 20:12
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Friday
June
30
"Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign
between me and them, that they might know that I am
the Lord that sanctify them."
The Bible shows that creation and redemption are insepa-
rably united in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ex. 31:16, 17 presents
the seventh-day Sabbath as a sign between us and our Creator.
See also Ezek. 20:20. Ezek. 20:12 shows that the Sabbath is
a sign of sanctification.
The heart of the Sabbath truth is Christ our Creator and
Redeemer. Every soul who receives Christ as his Lord and
Saviour should receive also His seventh-day Sabbath as a sign
that He is his Creator and Saviour.
What will they know who truly keep the Sabbath of
the Lord? Ex. 31:13; Ezek. 20:12.
Why is it that so many Christians are not keeping Christ's
seventh-day Sabbath, but prefer to observe the first day, or
Sunday, which Christ has not commanded us to keep?
History shows that during the centuries which followed the
apostolic age, there developed a widespread departure from the
truth as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result of this
apostasy, the keeping of Sunday was introduced and estab-
lished as a man-made substitute for the observance of Christ's
seventh-day Sabbath. This custom has been handed down by
ecclesiastical and civil laws through the centuries to our day.
This is why the majority of Christians keep Sunday instead
of observing Christ's seventh-day Sabbath which is com-
manded in the Ten Commandments.
In setting aside Christ's Sabbath, men did not realize that
they were, in a sense, setting aside their Creator and Saviour.
Bible prophecy foretold this departure from the truth and
predicted that there would be a restoration in the closing age.
So the call of God today is in substance: "Give Christ's Sab-
bath its rightful place in your life, as a sign that He is your
Creator and Saviour-Sanctifier."
How may we show our love for Christ? John 14:15,
21; 1 John 5:3.
"The Sabbath given to the world as
power that re-creates the soul in His
the sign of God as the Creator is also own likeness. To those who keep holy
the sign of Him as the Sanctifier. The
the Sabbath day it is the sign of sancti-
power that created all things is the
fication."—"Testimonies," Vol. 6, p. 350.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages, " pages 288, 289.
11
I
Answers: (1) only the Creator can save; (2) True; (3) He rested on and blessed the seventh day.
Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 31:16, 17; (4) Creator, Saviour; (5) for a sign that He was their Lord, and
Sanctifier.
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LESSON 2
14
CHRIST'S EVERLASTING MEMORIAL
2
"He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered." Ps. 111:4.
The two outstanding works of the Lord
for humanity are creation and redemption
—life for man in this world, and life eternal
in the hereafter.
Christ has appointed certain memorials
to help us keep in remembrance His creative
and redemptive works. One of the most
significant of these is His Sabbath, a weekly
reminder that He is our Creator and Re-
deemer. Hence the proper observance of
Christ's Sabbath is one way whereby we
may honor, exalt, and worship Him as our
Creator and Saviour. Salillicfhe high value
of true Sabbath keeping. On the other hand,
to dishonor or repudiate the Sabbath is to
dishonor and repudiate Him as our Creator
and Saviour.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Divinely Appointed Commemo-
ration
Ex. 20:8; 31:17
2.
The Everlasting Foundation
Mark 2:28
3.
Blessed Forever
Gen. 2:3
4.
The Only Right Day
Ex. 20:10, 11
5.
Relevant to Christianity
Luke 23:56
6.
Honored Throughout Eternity
Isa. 66:22, 23
13
Christ's Everlasting Memorial
LESSON 2
❑
Sunday
July 2
Part 1
DIVINELY
APPOINTED
COMMEMORATION
Ex 20:8; 31:17
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
"It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for
ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth,
and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed."
It was noted in last week's lesson that the Creator, in whose
honor the Sabbath is observed, was Jesus Christ. Just as long
as this is true, the seventh day remains the Sabbath.
The fact that the New Testament neither records nor au-
thorizes any transfer of the Sabbath from the seventh day
(Saturday) to the first day (Sunday) of the week manifests
the falsity of the claim that Sunday should be kept as the Lord's
day in honor of Christ's resurrection on the first day of the
week.
What is the significance of baptism? Rom. 6:4; Col.
2:12.
In true baptism the believer is buried and rises with Christ.
Baptism by immersion is a God-appointed way whereby we
are to show our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of
Christ as our Saviour.
Notice how the Word presents a record that the same
seventh day which was the Sabbath before Christ's resurrection
(Luke 23:54-56; Mark 16:1, 2) was still observed as the Sab-
bath by God's people after the Saviour's resurrection. Acts
13:14, 27, 42, 44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:1, 2; 18:4. In the absence
of any command to change this day, the seventh-day Sabbath
as the sign of the Creator-Redeemer continues for all Chris-
tians.
To what vitally significant events does the ordinance of
the Lord's Supper point? 1 Cor. 11:26; Luke 22:17-20.
THINK IT THROUGH
Do I observe these memorials—baptism, the Lord's
Supper, and the Sabbath—for which Christ calls? If I omit
any of them, how can my life be what He wants it to be?
"Though sin has entered the world
to mar His perfect work, God still gives
to us the Sabbath as a witness that One
omnipotent, infinite in goodness and
mercy, created all things. Our heavenly
Father desires through the observance
of the Sabbath to preserve among men
a knowledge of Himself. He desires
that the Sabbath shall direct our minds
to Him as the true and living God, and
that through knowing Him we may
have life and peace."—"Testimonies,"
Vol. 6, p. 349.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Great Controversy," pages 437, 438.
14
Christ's Everlasting Memorial
LESSON 2
Part 2
THE EVERLASTING
FOUNDATION
Mark 2:28
tfr
THINK IT THROUGH
El Monday
July 3
"Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."
Christ made the seventh day the Sabbath at creation. In the
Ten Commandments He declares that the seventh day is the
Sabbath, because He made the world in six days, rested upon
the seventh day, and then blessed and hallowed it. Ex. 20:8-11.
Why did Christ as Creator rest upon this last day of the
first week of this world's time? Compare Isa. 40:28 with
Gen. 2:3.
He sanctified the seventh day because in it He
had
rested
(Hebrew, "ceased," that is, from creating). Gen. 2:3; Ex. 20:11.
His rest was preparatory to His blessing and sanctifying; or
setting apart, the seventh day of the week as the Lord's day
for man. The relation between creation and redemption is so
close that it affects every day of the week, for during the
labors of the six working days we must remember that we are
to prepare to observe the seventh. Ex. 20:8-11; Ezek. 46:1.
The word "Sabbath" is a transliteration of the Hebrew word
shabbath,
which signifies cessation or rest. The Hebrew cognate
verb
shabath
means to cease, to rest, to sabbatize, or to keep
a sabbath. This verb is used twice in Gen. 2:2, 3, where it is
translated as "rested." This is evidence that Christ's rest on
the seventh day at the close of His creative work made this
day the Sabbath day of sacred rest in the beginning.
How does Christ, in the fourth commandment, identify
the seventh day as the Sabbath day as it relates to His
work of the creation of our world? Ex. 20:11.
Note how this precept refutes the notion that Sabbath ob-
servance was not instituted until the Exodus of Israel from
Egypt.
Does Jesus become my personal Saviour before I begin
to obey Him? Why is the Sabbath not a sign of the Crea-
tor-Redeemer in my life until I have been born again and
Christ has begun to sanctify me?
"The true ground of divine
. .. is found in the distinction between
the Creator and His creatures. . . . It
was to keep this truth ever before the
minds of men, that God instituted the
Sabbath in Eden; and so long as the
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "Patriarchs and Prophets," page 307.
15
fact that He is our Creator continues to
be a reason why we should worship
Him, so long the Sabbath will continue
as its sign and memorial."—"The Great
Controversy," pages 437, 438.
Christ's Everlasting
Memorial.
LESSON 2
❑
Tuesday
July 4
Part 3
"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it:
BLESSED FOREVER because that in it he had rested from all his work which
Gen. 2:3 God created and made."
There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that Christ has
transferred His blessing and sanctification of the seventh day
to any other day Therefore the seventh day still is His blessed
and sanctified day for all people.
In the New Testament there is not a word directing Chris-
tians to observe the first day of the week.
How does Christ confirm the Old Testament revelation
of which the Sabbath was a part? Matt. 5:17-19.
Christ ordained the seventh-day Sabbath as a
perpetual
memorial of His creative and redemptive power.
Hence there
was no valid reason for uninspired men in postapostolic times
to introduce Sunday keeping to commemorate the resurrection
of our Lord on the first day of the week.
Christ cannot be divided. His role as Redeemer cannot be
separated from His role as our Creator.
The Bible clearly shows that the keeping of the seventh day
is a sign of Christ as our Creator and our Redeemer. The keep-
ing of Sunday to commemorate redemption in Christ is in
effect an attempt to deny that our Saviour is also our Creator.
The very doctrine on which men have based their keeping
of Sunday is, as a matter of fact, contrary to Christ in His dual
and inseparable role as both our Creator and our Saviour.
Gladly we keep the Sabbath, which gives to Christ honor due
to Him as Redeemer and Creator.
THINK IT THROUGH
Can any person really make a day holy or truly bless
it? What else then cart we do but keep holy the seventh
day as sacred to Christ, who has blessed and hallowed
it for us?
"In Eden, God set up the memorial
of His work of creation, in placing His
blessing upon the seventh day. The
Sabbath was committed to Adam, the
father and representative of the whole
human family. Its observance was to
be an act of grateful acknowledgment,
on the part of all who should dwell
upon the earth, that God was their
Creator and their rightful Sovereign;
that they were the work of His hands
and the subjects of His authority."—
"Patriarchs and Prophets," page 48.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "Christ's Object Lessons," pages 25, 26.
16
Christ's Everlasting Memorial
LESSON 2
Part 5
RELEVANT TO
CHRISTIANITY
Luke 23:56
❑
Thursday
July 6
"And they returned, and prepared spices and oint-
ments; and rested the sabbath day according to the com-
mandment."
Many Christians think that the keeping of the Saturday
Sabbath was a religious obligation only under the Mosaic dis-
pensation, which ended at the crucifixion of Christ. They believe
that after Christ's death on the cross, the first day of the
week became the Lord's day to commemorate redemption
through Christ's death and resurrection. The New Testament
does not substantiate this.
Christ's seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment
continued to be applicable to men in the new Christian age,
even as did the other nine precepts. This Sabbath commandment
is specifically referred to in Luke 23:56, as being binding the
day after the crucifixion. See also Heb. 4:10.
What laws were abolished at the cross? Eph. 2:15.
THINK IT THROUGH
The Ten Commandments, as God's eternal rule of right,
continued to be binding after the crucifixion of Christ. Thus
the keeping of the seventh day is as relevant today as is the
command, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," or
"Thou shalt not steal," or any of the other precepts of the
Decalogue.
It is significant that Christ sanctified the seventh day
for man before he sinned. This shows that the keeping of
the seventh day cannot be reckoned as one of the sabbaths
referred to in Col. 2:16, 17, as "a shadow of things to come."
This is evident from the fact that, in the world to come, "all
flesh" will come to worship before Him "from one sabbath to
another." Isa. 66:22, 23.
These Scriptural considerations indicate that the keeping of
the seventh day is one link in the chain of the truth as it is
in Jesus. It is a part of a full commitment to Christ.
If man had never sinned, how many in this world
would observe the seventh-day Sabbath? How much
crime, sickness, strife, trouble, sorrow, and death would
there be? When will God's ideal in this matter be real-
ized?
"The sign of obedience is the obser-
vance of the Sabbath of the fourth
commandment. If men keep the fourth
commandment, they will keep all the
rest."—Ellen G. White Comments, "SDA
Bible Commentary," Vol. 7, p. 981.
"The disciples of Jesus are called
18
upon to restore it [the seal] by exalting
the Sabbath of the fourth command-
ment to its rightful position as the
Creator's memorial and the sign of His
authority."—"The Great Controversy,"
page 452.
Christ's Everlasting Memorial
LESSON 2
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Friday
July 7
"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which
I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so
shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come
to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from
one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship
before me, saith the Lord."
All of the saved will honor the Sabbath as a day of worship
throughout eternity in the new earth. It will continue to be
remembered forever in that coming perfect world. Says the
Eternal One: "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the
thing that is gone out of My lips." Ps. 89:34.
When we compare Gen. 2:1-3 with Isa. 66:22, 23, we see
that the Sabbath spans the arch of time from the creation of
this world past its re-creation in the future. Thus the seventh
day is Christ's Sabbath for His people in all ages.
How does the Lord speak of Sabbath observance as a
perpetual practice? Ex. 31:16, 17.
The Sabbath was here
before
sin entered our world. It will
be here
after
sin has been banished from it. It spans the gulf
from Paradise lost by man's lack of faith in God and its result-
ant disobedience to Paradise regained by man's faith in Him
and his resultant obedience. The Sabbath is a continuing sign
pointing to Christ as the Way to Eden restored.
Every Sabbath, as it comes at the end of each week, brings
to us a double, delightful outlook. It points us back to the
time when the earth was perfect and happiness reigned su-
preme. It points forward to the time when the earth will be
perfect again and filled with everlasting happiness.
What decision will everyone have made who is ad-
mitted through the gates of the City of God? Isa. 26:2.
Part 6
HONORED
THROUGHOUT
ETERNITY
Isa. 66:22, 23
"The Sabbath was not for Israel
merely, but for the world. It had been
made known to man in Eden, and, like
the other precepts of the Decalogue, it
is of imperishable obligation. . . . So
long as the heavens and the earth
endure, the Sabbath will continue as
a sign of the Creator's power."—"The
Desire of Ages," page 283.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "Testimonies," Vol. 7, pp. 105-109.
19
Christ's Everlasting Memorial
LESSON 2
Part 7 <> SUMMARY QUESTIONS <> TO TEST YOUR STUDY POWER
I. According to the Scriptures, how many major memorials has Christ estab-
lished for His people to observe? 2, 3, 4, 5.
2. Indicate what these memorials are:
3.
Sunday keeping is not a true memorial of Christ's resurrection, because
there is no
for it in the New Testament.
4.
Why couldn't the churches, by common agreement, transfer Christ's sanc-
tification from the seventh to the first day of the week?
5.
The Sabbath is a memorial of Christ's
and
power.
6.
"The Sabbath was not for
merely, but for the
f)
7.
Christ has shown that the seventh day is the true Sabbath because He
made the world in
, and rested on the
8.
Where does the Bible show that the seventh day will be honored in the
new earth)
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20
A LINK OF LOVE
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:
and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father." John 14:21.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
have bound Themselves to humanity with
an everlasting love. Jer. 31:3 ; John 3:16.
When a soul responds to this love in obe-
dience to God, it makes love a link uniting
him with God.
Christ's seventh-day Sabbath is a symbol
of His love as our Creator-Saviour. Thus
true Sabbath keeping is a link of love, bind-
ing the believer to his Lord. It bestows
the joys and delights of divine love. But
trying to keep the Sabbath without the love
of Christ in your heart is drudgery, restric-
tion, and a burden.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Sealed by the Cross
Rom. 5:8
2.
Love Spells Obedience
1 John 5:3
3.
An Example of Love
1 Peter 2:21
4.
For Our Good
Deut. 6:24
5.
The Right Motivation
Ps. 40:8
6.
Day of Delight
Isa. 58:13, 14
21
A Link of Love
LESSON 3
❑
Sunday
July
9
Part 1
"God commendeth his love toward us in that, while
SEALED BY we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
THE CROSS
Rom. 5:8
THINK IT THROUGH
Creation and redemption are manifestations of the love of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for man. The Sabbath,
as a sign of our Creator-Redeemer, is a link of love, extended
by Him to bind our hearts to His heart. It is said of the Ten
Commandments: "The fourth is the connecting link between
the great God and man."—The
Story of Redemption,
page 141.
What relationship is there between the hallowing of
the Sabbath on your part and having a personal knowl-
edge of God? Ezek. 20:20.
What connection is there between obedience to Christ
and abiding in His love? John 15:10.
Christ the Creator was manifest as Christ the Redeemer in
His all-sufficient sacrifice at Calvary. A wooden cross is a per-
pendicular post with a crossarm extending in each direction.
The creative power of Christ may be likened to the upright
post, by which all things are upheld. Heb. 1:2, 3. His redemp-
tive power may be likened to the crossarm, extended to all
and reaching from the entrance of sin to the close of probation.
The Sabbath, as a sign of Christ's creative and redemptive
power, bears the imprint of His cross.
Think how this links true Sabbath keeping with the grand
center of all attraction—Christ and Him crucified. It reveals
its inseparable relationship to Christian living. The cross of
Christ casts the halo of Heaven's redeeming love around His
Sabbath.
Is my Sabbath keeping a link of love binding my heart
close to that of Christ? Does it bring to me joys and de-
lights of His love and presence?
"The Sabbath points then to the
works of creation as an evidence of
His mighty power in redemption. While
it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden,
it tells of peace restored through the
22
Saviour. And every object in nature re-
peats His invitation, 'Come unto Me, all
ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and
I will give you rest.'"—"The Desire of
Ages," page 289.
A
Link of Love
LESSON 3
Part 3
AN EXAMPLE
OF LOVE
1 Peter 2:21
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Tuesday
July II
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should
follow his steps."
The Son of God took upon Himself our human nature. Thus
He forever linked His divinity with our humanity. When He
lived on earth, He kept the seventh day. Mark 1:20, 21; Luke
4:16, 31. This makes the keeping of the seventh day one of
Christ's "steps" for us.
How do we know that Jesus has not changed? Heb.
13:8.
Since He has not changed and He kept' the Sabbath when
He lived here, what day would He observe if He lived on earth
today?
Sunday keeping was introduced among Christians by some
church leaders after the apostles Paul, Peter, and John had
died. The call of God for our day is to turn from tradition to
His way.
What made the ground around the burning bush holy?
Ex. 3:2-6.
The presence of Christ in the burning bush made the very
ground surrounding it holy. Likewise He has hallowed the sev-
enth day by putting His own presence into it. He Himself kept
it first as our Creator in the beginning and later when He came
to live here as our Redeemer. We should walk in His steps by
keeping it, too. The Sabbath observance hallowed by His ex-
ample affords us a deeper consciousness of His presence.
The consciousness of the Saviour's abiding presence is one
of life's greatest joys and imperatives.
If Jesus were here on earth today, what would He do
on Sabbath? What must I do to follow in His steps?
"It [the Sabbath] was a memorial of
the work of creation, and thus a sign
of God's power and His love. . . .
"And since the Sabbath is a memo-
rial of the work of creation, it is a token
of the love and power of Christ.
"The Sabbath calls our thoughts to
nature, and brings us into communion
with the Creator. In the song of the
bird
;
the
s
i
g
l
,
;.sg of the trees, (
-
And the
music of the sea, we still may hear His
voice who talked with Adam in Eden in
the cool of the day."—"The Desire of
Ages," pages 281, 282.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages," pages 281, 283, 288, 289.
24
A Link of Love
LESSON 3
Part 3
AN EXAMPLE
OF LOVE
1 Peter 2:21
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Tuesday
July 11
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should
follow his steps."
The Son of God took upon Himself our human nature. Thus
He forever linked His divinity with our humanity. When He
lived on earth, He kept the seventh day. Mark 1:20, 21; Luke
4:16, 31. This makes the keeping of the seventh day one of
Christ's "steps" for us.
How do we know that Jesus has not changed? Heb.
13:8.
Since He has not changed and He kept the Sabbath when
He lived here, what day would He observe if He lived on earth
today?
Sunday keeping was introduced among Christians by some
church leaders after the apostles Paul, Peter, and John had
died. The call of God for our day is to turn from tradition to
His way.
What made the ground around the burning bush holy?
Ex. 3:2-6.
The presence of Christ in the burning bush made the very
ground surrounding it holy. Likewise He has hallowed the sev-
enth day by putting His own presence into it. He Himself kept
it first as our Creator in the beginning and later when He came
to live here as our Redeemer. We should walk in His steps by
keeping it, too. The Sabbath observance hallowed by His ex-
ample affords us a deeper consciousness of His presence.
The consciousness of the Saviour's abiding presence is one
of life's greatest joys and imperatives.
If Jesus were here on earth today, what would He do
on Sabbath? What must I do to follow in His steps?
"It
[the Sabbath] was a memorial of nature, and brings us into communion
the work of creation, and thus a sign
with the Creator. In the song of the
of God's power and His love. . . .
bird, the sighing of the trees, and the
"And since the Sabbath is a memo-
music of the sea, we still may hear His
rial of the work of creation, it is a token
voice who talked with Adam in Eden in
of the love and power of Christ.
the cool of the day."—"The Desire of
"The Sabbath calls our thoughts to
Ages," pages 281, 282.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages ," pages 281, 283, 288, 289.
24
A Link of Love
LESSON 3
❑
Wednesday
July 12
Part 4
"And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes,
FOR OUR GOOD to fear the Lord our God, for our good always."
Deut. 6:24
THINK IT THROUGH
When we truly love God, we know in our inmost soul that
all of His commandments are for our good always. We also
understand that he who sins against God wrongs his own soul.
Prov. 8:36. Then our uppermost desire is to obey Christ. This
leads to a lasting decision to follow Him faithfully all the way
to the end. Then we understand that the keeping of the Sab-
bath is not ordained to deprive us of time for our own activ-
ities. It is enjoined to provide us time to maintain in a special
way a closer fellowship with Christ.
How are we blessed both spiritually and physically by
keeping the Sabbath? Ise. 58:13, 14.
The best experiences in this life and in the never-ending
life to come are bound up in remembering the Lord in all the
affairs of our life.
Why do not the boundaries of Saturday, as reckoned
by man, coincide exactly with the seventh day of the
fourth commandment? Gen. 1:23, 31; Mark 1:21, 32;
Lev. 23:32.
The observance of the seventh day, as Christ commands, is
from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday.
Remembering
the
Sabbath projects its spirit into the other
days of the week. The Sabbath must be remembered in our
plans, appointments, and transactions, so that nothing will
conflict with the proper keeping of God's holy day when it
comes to us. Thus it is designed to keep the will of .the Creator
and Redeemer prominent in our life. It helps us to set the
Lord always before us as did the psalmist. Psalm 16:8.
Do I keep the Sabbath in mind all during the week? Is
my Sabbath keeping truly a sign that the Creator has
made me into a new person and is sanctifying me?
"If the people of God would appre-
ciate His word, we should have a
heaven ir
-
t
-
ih
-
W
-
Church here below. Chris-
tians would be eager, hungry, to search
the word. . . .
"Weariness would be forgotten in the
sunlight of heaven. Truth would be in-
terwoven with their lives, and its heav-
enly principles would be as a fresh,
running stream, constantly satisfying
the soul."—"Testimonies," Vol. 8, p.
193.
25
A Link of Love
LESSON 3
Part 5
THE RIGHT
MOTIVATION
Ps. 40:8
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Thursday
July 13
"I delight to do thy will,
0
my God: yea, thy law is
within my heart."
Do we obey God because we "have to"? Or because we
desire to? The answer may reveal whether we are living under
the old covenant or the new.
What is the primary purpose of God in giving us a new
mind? Ezek. 11:19, 20; Rom. 8:7.
Some ask, "Isn't it hard to keep Saturday as the Sabbath ?"
The answer is Yes or No according to whether or not Christ
is living His life in you. The keeping of the Sabbath is a spir-
itual experience.
It is good to obey God from a realization of our obligation;
but it is better to have the love of God in our hearts to the
extent that we obey because we truly wish to do it. True Sab-
bath keeping is a token of mutual love between our best Friend
and us. John 14:21.
In the performance of every duty it should be that "the love
of Christ constraineth us." Then His yoke is easy. In fact, we
find true rest in having His yoke upon us. Matt. 11:28-30.
Love makes it easy to do what otherwise would be difficult
and burdensome. Does mother love find it hard to keep a try-
ing night vigil at the bedside of a sick child?
A devout Christian has raised and answered this question,
"Why is it so hard to lead a self-denying, humble life? Be-
cause professed Christians are not dead to the world. It is easy
living after we are
dead."—Messages to Young People,
page 127.
It is easy to live in accordance with God's law when we
are "crucified with Christ" and He "liveth" in us. Gal. 2:20.
On the other hand, it is hard to do if we are not dead. So
each of us decides whether or not he will cooperate with the
Holy Spirit in order to enter into and maintain the right
Christian experience.
Do I keep the Sabbath because I love God or from a
feeling of duty? Have we been remiss in urging the
Sabbath upon people, from the law, without letting the
gospel arouse love's desire to keep it?
"If we consent, He will so identify
Himself with our thoughts and aims, so
blend our hearts and minds into con-
formity to His will, that when obeying
Him we shall be but carrying out our
own impulses."—"The Desire of Ages,"
page 668.
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
"Messages to Young People," pages 27-32.
26
A Link of Love
LESSON 3
❑
Friday
July 14
Part 6
"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from
DAY OF DELIGHT doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath
Isa. 58:13, 14
a delight, . . . then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord."
The Sabbath of Christ has in it today the love and joy of
the original in a perfect creation and of the future in a perfect
restoration. It is an indication of eternal love and joy.
The keeping of the seventh day originated in Eden when all
was perfect. Each Sabbath brings to us a breath from Eden. It
is also a foretaste of Eden restored in the earth made new,
where sin, sickness, sorrow, and death will be no more. The
successive Sabbaths are like lights along the highway to that
better world.
The perfect delight of the first Sabbath in Eden may be
recaptured to some degree by true Sabbath keeping now. It
will be fully recaptured by God's redeemed in the new earth
as we come to worship before Him from one Sabbath to an-
other.
How is keeping the Sabbath linked with delighting
oneself in the Lord? Isa. 58:13, 14.
How is pleasing the Lord linked with keeping the Sab-
bath? Isa. 56:1, 2, 4, 5.
THINK IT THROUGH
The Sabbath is not merely a day of physical rest. Any day
would do for that. It is not exclusively a day for spiritual
renewal. It is both of these and more. It is a sign of allegiance
to Christ as our Creator and Saviour.
The seventh-day Sabbath has lost none of its Scriptural
-
sig-
nificance as a memorial of 'Christ's creative and saving power.
Every soul who receives Christ as his personal Saviour needs
to keep His Sabbath as a sign of his acceptance of Christ as
both his Creator and Saviour.
Is Sabbath observance truly a delight to me? If it was
essential before man sinned, is it not more so in this
present world of sin?
"Great blessings are enfolded in the
that now distinguishes God's people as
observance of the Sabbath, and God they come out from the world to enter
desires that the Sabbath day shall be
the heavenly rest."—"Testimonies," Vol.
to us a day of joy. . . . It is the sign
6, p. 349.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "Testimonies," Vol. 6, pp. 349-352.
27
8Z
Answers: (1) "The Story of Redemption," page 141; (2) Matt. 22:35-40; Rom. 13:8-10; (3)
God's presence; (4) Friday sunset, Saturday sunset; (5) because of the lack of the love of Christ
in the heart; (6) by keeping Sabbath he reaffirms his belief in God as Creator of heaven and earth.
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A BULWARK OF TRUTH
4
"His truth shall be thy shield and buckler." Ps. 91:4.
True Sabbath keeping has been wisely
designed as a sign of allegiance to Christ
and as an effective barrier against error and
false worship. There is a direct relationship
between keeping the true Sabbath and hon-
oring the true Christ by following the truth
as it is in Christ.
The author of all error (John 8:44) is
aware of this. Hence it has been his studied
purpose from the beginning to pervert, dis-
tort, set aside, conceal, and repudiate the
Sabbath truth. The result is that it is the
most misunderstood, opposed, and disre-
garded of the doctrines of Christ. This is
a call to search out its significance as "The
Bulwark of Truth."
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Mark of True Worship
Ex. 31:17
2.
Preventive of False Worship
Rev. 14:7
3.
Worldwide Witness
Ex. 20:9, 10
4.
Precludes Evolutionary Theory
Heb. 11:3
5.
A Sign Between Us and God
Ezek. 20:20
6.
Truth Sanctifies
John 17:17
29
The Bulwark of Truth
LESSON 4
❑
Sunday
July16
"It [the Sabbath] is a sign between me and the children
of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven
and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was
refreshed."
There can be no house without a builder. Every house is
proof that a builder has made it. Thus the Bible points to the
existence of the world and the objects therein as evidence that
there is a Creator-God (Rom. 1:20) and that He is the only
true God. Ps. 96:5 ; Jer. 10:10-12.
What did Christ, as our Creator, give man to be his
continual means of acknowledgment of the only true God,
and as a sign of his supreme allegiance to Him? Ex. 20:
8-11; 31:16, 17.
Those who truly keep the Sabbath show thereby that they
worship the Creator as the only true God. This makes Sab-
bath keeping a mark of true worship. In the Decalogue the
Sabbath command (Ex. 20:8-11) is the only precept in which
the Lord (YHWH) is identified as the Creator and therefore
the only One to whom we should render worship and supreme
allegiance. Thus Sabbath keeping is a distinguishing mark be-
tween true and false worship.
How does the Word of God emphasize that supreme,
heart-motivated obedience to God is true worship? 1 Sam.
15:22; Ps. 40:6-8.
THINK IT THROUGH
True Sabbath keeping shows our commitment to obey God
supremely. A person cannot keep the Sabbath as Christ directs
if he serves other gods. A true Sabbath keeper is a true wor-
shiper of the Father and the Son. True Sabbath observance
must not be omitted if we would worship God in spirit and
in truth as Jesus directs. John 4:24.
Do I have any gods before the Creator? Am I allow-
ing anything or any person to hold me back from render-
ing full and supreme obedience to the Lord?
Part 1
MARK OF
TRUE WORSHIP
Ex. 31:17
1).
"'The importance of the Sabbath as
the memorial of creation is that it keeps
ever present the true reason why wor-
ship is due to God'—because He is the
Creator, and we are His creatures. 'The
Sabbath therefore lies at the very foun-
dation of divine worship, for it teaches
this great truth in the most impressive
manner, and no other institution does
this.' "—J. N. Andrews, as quoted in
"The Great Controversy," page 437.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "SDA Bible Commentary," Vol. 7, pp. 980, 981 (Ellen G.
White Comments on "The Mark of Distinction").
30
The Bulwark of Truth
LESSON 4
❑
Monday
July 17
Part 2
"Fear
God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his
PREVENTIVE OF judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven,
FALSE WORSHIP and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."
Rev. 14:7
These words are a part of the message given in the final
phase of the gospel, which God has foreordained shall be pro-
claimed to every nation shortly before the second advent of
Christ. Rev. 14:6-15. This message restores forgotten and ne-
glected truths to their rightful place in the preaching of the
gospel of Christ.
THINK IT THROUGH
What kind of Christian people are raised up by ac-
ceptance of this heaven-sent message?
This last-day message provides certainty amid uncertainty.
The way of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus
is the Lord's true way in the midst of all the confusing and
conflicting doctrines of the last days.
This call to "worship Him that made heaven and earth"
requires that men recognize Christ and His rightful place as
our Creator and Lord. This in turn calls for the keeping of
the Sabbath as His appointed sign that He is our Creator and
Redeemer. Ezek. 20:12, 20. Since Sabbath observance is a mark
of true worship, it is one test for distinguishing truth from
error.
What will the observer of the Sabbath know? Ezek.
20:20.
If Christ's Sabbath had been kept by all men from the
beginning, there would be no infidel, atheist, or idolator. And
there would be neither Buddhism, Confucianism, Mohamme-
danism, nor pantheism. Neither would there be materialism
or humanism, which leave God out of their reckoning.
Honoring the Sabbath as the sign of loyalty to our Creator-
Redeemer sweeps the foundation from under every false sys-
tem of worship. Is it any wonder that the devil's chief target
has been the Sabbath?
Do I keep the Sabbath in such a spirit that it signifies
that Christ is Lord in all the affairs of my life?
"Had the Sabbath been universally
keeping of the Sabbath is a sign of
kept, man's thoughts and affections
loyalty to the true God, 'Him that made
would have been led to the Creator as heaven, and earth, and the sea, and
the object of reverence and worship, the fountains of waters.' "—"The Great
and there would never have been an Controversy," page 438.
idolater, an atheist, or an infidel. The
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Great Controversy," pages 436-438.
31
The Bulwark of Truth
LESSON 4
❑
Tuesday
July Z8
Part 3
"Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but
WORLDWIDE the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it
WITNESS thou shalt not do any work."
Ex. 20:9, 10
There are twenty-four hours in a day. The period of rota-
tion of the earth upon its axis determines the length of the
day. The period of a revolution of the moon around the earth
is the natural measure of the month. The revolution of the
earth around the sun in a little over 365 days is the basis of
the common year of 365 days and the leap year of 366 days.
But whence came the seven-day week? It cannot be ac-
counted for from nature.
What connection is there between Christ's instituting
the Sabbath and commanding its observance, and the
reckoning of the days by the recurring cycle of seven?
Ex. 20:8-11.
To what inspired account must men turn for the origin
of the week? Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-3; Ex. 20:11; 31:17; Heb.
4:4.
THINK IT THROUGH
Christ the Creator established the seven-day week when
He made the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Then
He sanctified the Sabbath, or set it apart as sacred for man to
keep holy on every seventh day thereafter. He directed man
to confine his secular affairs to the first six days of the week
and to devote the seventh day to the worship of the Lord. This
is the origin of the seven-day week.
The universal use of seven days for a week reveals how the
Sabbath has influenced our world. Each week ending with the
Sabbath points to the Creator-God of Genesis 1 and 2, who is
Christ. The week bears its own witness that the days of crea-
tion week were not long and indefinite periods of time but were
evening-and-morning days, seven of which made up the week
of creation like every week since that time. The calendar, with
its weeks of seven days, bears witness to the identity and con-
tinuity of Christ's Sabbath for our age.
How did the Lord identify the true week and the right
Sabbath for forty consecutive years in connection with
the wilderness journey of the Israelites? Ex. 16:4, 5, 16-
30, 35.
"I
. was
shown that the first week, creation and day of rest, measured off
in which God performed the work of the first cycle as a sample for succes-
creation in six days and rested on the
sive
weeks till the close of time."—"Spir-
seventh day, was just like every other
itual Gifts," Vol. 3,
p. 90.
week. The great God in his days of
32
The Bulwark of Truth
LESSON 4
❑
Thursday
July 20
Part 5
"And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign
A SIGN BETWEEN between me and you, that ye may know that I am the
US AND GOD Lord your God."
Ezek. 20:20
In seven places in the New Testament Jesus is presented as
the Creator of this world and also of all the worlds in the
universe. Only Deity can create a world. The true and living
God is set forth as the Creator of all, in contradistinction to the
vast array of false gods, none of whom have made the heaven
and earth. Jer. 10:10-12; Acts 17:23, 24.
God sets forth His seventh-day Sabbath as a sign that He
is this Creator. Ex. 31:16, 17. Therefore it becomes a sign of
His incomparable standing as God, in addition to His becom-
ing man.
The Sabbath, as it relates to His deity, is especially relevant
to Christianity today. Why? Because many professed Chris-
tians in various religious denominations which were formerly
fully committed to the deity of Christ are now openly express-
ing their disbelief in this. They laud Him as the best man and
the greatest teacher. But they do not regard Him as being
truly God as He was truly man.
Why is the acceptance of Christ as being truly God as
He was truly man essential to a full appreciation of sal-
vation?
THINK IT THROUGH
No one can truly hallow Christ's Sabbath and at the same
time deny His deity. No one can keep the Sabbath as the
Lord's command requires in Ex. 20:8-11 and be committed to
the evolutionary theory.
Among the myriads of true Sabbath keepers there are none
who deny the deity of Christ or who disbelieve the Biblical
account of creation. The true Sabbath is a barrier against cer-
tain errors. It is an important link in that interlocked chain
of truth as it is in Jesus.
What should all Sunday-keeping Christians who still
believe in the deity of Christ do to manifest greater faith
in His lordship? Ezek. 20:20; James 2:20, 26.
"In the fourth commandment God is
revealed as the Creator of the heavens
and the earth, and is thereby distin-
guished from all false gods. It was as
a memorial of the work of creation that
the seventh day was sanctified as a rest
day for man. It was designed to keep
the living God ever before the minds
of men as the source of being and the
object of reverence and worship. Satan
strives to turn men from their allegiance
to God, and from rendering obedience
to His law; therefore he directs his ef-
forts especially against that command-
ment which points to God as the Crea-
tor."—"The Great Controversy," pages
53, 54.
FOR
FURTHER STUDY: "Testimonies," Vol. 8, pages 197, 198.
34
The Bulwark of Truth
LESSON 4
Part 7
0
SUMMARY QUESTIONS
0
TO TEST YOUR STUDY POWER
1.
The God of the Bible is the only true God because He is the
2.
True Sabbath keeping is a mark of true worship because, according to
(list references) the Sabbath is a
of God as the
3. The week of seven days is a continuing worldwide witness to the
and
of the seventh-day Sabbath.
4. True Sabbath keeping precludes acceptance of the evolutionary theory,
because it commits the observer to belief in the direct creation of our world
in
5. No one who truly hallows the Sabbath denies the deity of Christ, because
such observance is a sign of belief that He is
6. Salvation only by grace through faith:
(a)
releases a Christian from keeping the Ten Commandments.
(b)
supersedes obedience to the law.
(c)
is contrary to obeying the law.
(d)
leads one to obey the Decalogue by having Christ live in him.
7. According to Rev. 14:12, God's true people in our day are distinguished
by the
and the
8. A true Sabbath keeper will not be a legalist, because his Sabbath keeping
is a continual acknowledgment of his utter dependence upon
to
and
him
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LESSON 5
July
23-29
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THE MISSING TEXT
5
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received
the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so. Therefore many of them believed." Acts 17:11, 12.
They maintained the right attitude
toward truth. They tested Paul's preaching
by what the Scriptures taught. When they
found that his teachings were according to
the Word, they gladly moved forward to
accept them.
The apostles and the primitive Christians
regarded the Scriptures as the ultimate au-
thority for the determination of what is
truth. Protestantism was founded upon this
safe and sure foundation: that the Bible,
and the Bible only, is the authoritative
rule of faith and practice.
The Christian princes in the Diet of
Spires of 1529 declared concerning the Bi-
ble, "`This word is the only truth; it is
the sure rule of all doctrine and of all life,
and can never fail or deceive us. He who
builds on this foundation shall stand against
all the powers of hell, while all the human
vanities that are set up against it shall fall
before the face of God.'
"—The Great Con-
troversy,
page 203.
Today millions of Protestants, who tradi-
tionally accept the Bible as their only guide,
believe that the keeping of Sunday is
sanctioned by the New Testament. This
situation demands that a search be made
to see if there is such evidence in the New
Testament.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Resurrection on Sunday
Mark 16:9, NEB
2.
Resurrection's Relationship to
Sabbath
Luke 23:54-56; 24:1, NEB
3.
Doubting Disciples Convinced
John 20:19, NEB
4.
An All-night Meeting
Acts 20:7
5.
Sunday Provision for Needy
1 Cor. 16:2
6.
A Man-made Predicament
Matt. 22:29
37
The Missing Text
LESSON 5
❑
Sunday
July 23
Part 1
"When he had risen from the dead early on Sunday
RESURRECTION morning he appeared first to Mary of Magdala, from
ON SUNDAY whom he had formerly cast out seven devils."
Mark 16:9, NEB
This is a definite statement that Christ arose early on
Sunday morning. But there is not a hint that Sunday is to be
honored because the Lord arose on that day.
THINK IT THROUGH
How does Mark show that the Lord's holy day is the
one which precedes Sunday? Mark 16:1, 2.
Regardless of how earnestly one may try, it is impossible to
keep the Lord's holy day on Sunday. Why? Because Mark 16:
1, 2 shows that
the Sabbath was past
when the women came
to the tomb at daybreak on Sunday.
How does John refer to the day when Mary found the
tomb empty? John 20:1.
John wrote this account about sixty years after the resur-
rection of Christ. Some claim that during these sixty years the
keeping of Sunday by Christians was established in the place
of that of the seventh-day Sabbath. If this were true, wouldn't
John have mentioned this when he spoke of the first day in
direct connection with our Lord's resurrection?
The fact is that Christians in the days of the apostles kept
Saturday and not Sunday. In Acts 18:4 the record declares
that at Corinth Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sab-
bath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. This happened
about A.D. 54, or twenty-three years after Christ's resurrection.
The Jews assembled in their synagogues according to their
custom every week upon the seventh day, or Saturday. The
Holy Spirit, speaking through Luke in Acts 18:4, identifies
their meeting days as being every Sabbath. This indicates that
this day on which they met for worship was observed as the
Sabbath twenty-three years after the resurrection of Christ.
Why can no one adequately harmonize Sunday keep-
ing with Mark 16:1, 2?
"Protestants now urge that the resur- given to the day by Christ or His apos-
rection of Christ on Sunday made it the tles."—"The Great Controversy," page
Christian Sabbath. But Scripture evi- 54.
dente is lacking. No such honor was
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Great Controversy," pages 51-54.
38
The Missing Text
LESSON 5
❑
Monday
July 24
Part 2
"It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
RESURRECTION'S
"The women who had accompanied him from Galilee
RELATIONSHIP followed; they took note of the tomb and observed how
TO SABBATH his body was laid. Then they went home and prepared
spices and perfumes; and on the Sabbath they rested in
obedience to the commandment. But on the Sunday morn-
Luke 23:54-56; ing very early they came to the tomb bringing the spices
24:1, NEB they had prepared."
These verses present three notable facts:
1.
Christ was crucified on Friday, the day before the Sab-
bath. Mark 15:42 designates the day of the crucifixion as "the
day before the Sabbath."
2.
Christ arose from the dead on Sunday, the day after the
Sabbath. Mark 16:1, 2, NEB, declares that "the Sabbath was
past" when the women went to the tomb on Sunday at day-
break. Matt. 28:1, NEB, says, "The Sabbath was over, and it
was about daybreak on Sunday, when Mary of Magdala and
the other Mary came to look at the grave."
3.
The day in the middle between the Friday of the cruci-
fixion and the Sunday of the resurrection was "the sabbath day
according to the commandment" of the Lord. Luke 23:56;
Ex. 20:8-11. Thus everyone can be sure, according to Luke
23:54-56; 24:1, that the seventh day—Saturday—is the day
which the Lord asks us to keep holy.
THINK IT THROUGH
What evidence do you see in Luke 23:54-56; 24:1 that
the followers of Jesus came to the tomb to do on Sunday
what they would not do on Saturday?
Some think that changes in the calendar have made it un-
certain whether or not Saturday is the true seventh day of the
week now. The calendar changes have pertained to the num-
bering of days in certain months. There has been no change of
the fixed order and number of the seven days in the weekly
cycle.
Since the followers of Jesus were expected to keep the
Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset on the
weekend of the crucifixion, what does the law of God
requir'e of me every week?
"Each Sabbath institution [the true
Sabbath and the false sabbath] bears
the name of its author, an ineffaceable
mark showing the authority of each.
The first day of the week has not one
particle of sanctity. It is the production
of the man of sin, who strives in this
way to counterwork God's purposes."
—Ellen G. White Comments, "SDA Bible
Commentary," Vol. 7, p. 981.
39
The Missing Text
LESSON 5
❑
Tuesday
July 25
Part 3
"Late that Sunday evening, when the disciples were
DOUBTING DISCIPLES together behind locked doors, for fear of the Jews, Jesus
CONVINCED came and stood among them."
John 20:19, NEB
It is claimed that the apostles had gathered together to be-
gin the keeping of Sunday in honor of Christ's resurrection.
But note there is not a word in the text to indicate this.
How do we know that when they came together on
that occasion, they did not believe that Jesus had risen
from the dead? Mark 16:9-14.
Why is it wrong to read into a text something different
from what it says? Prov. 30:6; 2 Peter 3:16.
In John 20:26 the apostle records that after eight days
from this Sunday-night meeting, Jesus appeared again to His
apostles. According to Jewish method of reckoning days, this
second meeting took place on the next Sunday. Some claim
that this was the setting apart of Sunday as the Lord's day
for worship instead of the seventh day. But there is no hint
of such a purpose in this text. Jesus came to convince doubting
Thomas.
The first recorded Christian council convened at Jerusalem
about
A.D.
52, or approximately twenty-one years after Christ's
resurrection. See Acts 15. It is worthy of note that in the offi-
cial letter of this council to all the churches, the day observed
by the Jews was recognized as the Sabbath. It referred to the
reading of the Scriptures in the synagogues "every Sabbath
day." Acts 15:21. There was then no other Sabbath than the
seventh day of the week. So it is today and forevermore. Isa.
66:22, 23.
THINK IT THROUGH
If it was the Lord's plan for Christians to keep Sun-
day, wouldn't the New Testament so declare it? Since
such a thing is not mentioned at all, is it according to
Christ's plan?
"Christ rested in the tomb on the Sab-
bath day, and when holy beings of
both heaven and earth were astir on
the morning of the first day of the week,
He rose from the grave to renew His
40
work of teaching His disciples. But this
fact does not consecrate the first day of
the week, and make it a Sabbath."—
Ellen G. White Comments, "SDA Bible
Commentary," Vol. 5, p. 1113.
The Missing Text
LESSON 5
Part 4
AN ALL-NIGHT
MEETING
Acts 20:7
❑
Wednesday
July 26
"And upon the first day of the week, when the dis-
ciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto
them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his
speech until midnight."
Many claim that this passage shows that it was a regular
practice there for Christians to assemble on every Sunday for
worship. We must not read into the Scriptures something that
is not there.
How do we know that, according to Biblical mode of
reckoning of the twenty-four-hour day, this meeting at
Troas was held on what we call Saturday night? Gen.
1:19; Mark 1:32; Acts 20:7, 8, 11.
The celebration of the Lord's Supper on the first day of the
week at Troas would not sanctify Sunday for Christians to
keep as the Lord's day. The celebration of the first Lord's
Supper by Jesus and His disciples on a Thursday night did
not make that a holy day.
This first-day meeting at Troas does not represent
regular
Christian practice. It lasted all night long. Acts 20:7, 8, 11.
No church customarily holds regular meetings during the entire
night.
This meeting was not held because it was Sunday, but be-
cause Paul was "ready to depart" early the next morning.
Verses 7 and 11. He went on foot on Sunday morning to Assos.
Verses 13, 14.
It was logical that he would hold this farewell meeting on
the night previous to his departure, a Saturday night doubtless,
and celebrate the Lord's Supper with them.
What New Testament Christian leaders speak of the
day on which devout Jews and some Gentiles assembled
for worship as the Sabbath? Acts 13:27; 15:21; 18:4.
THINK IT THROUGH
Why does it take more than the holding of a meeting
on Sunday to make it a divinely appointed weekly holy
day for Christians? Gen. 2:3; Ex. 20:8-11.
"The simplest way to view this pas-
sage would seem to be that the meet-
ing was held, not because it was Sun-
day, but because Paul was 'ready to
depart,' . . . that Luke includes an ac-
count of the meeting because of the
experience of Eutychus, and that his
note that it was 'the first day of the
week' is merely a part of his continuing
chronological record of Paul's journey."
—"SDA Bible Commentary," on Acts
20:7.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "SDA
Bible Commentary," on Acts 20:7.
41
Part 5
SUNDAY PROVISION
FOR NEEDY
1 Cor. 16:2
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Thursday
July 27
"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you
lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there
be no gatherings when I come."
Some declare that this means that a collection was taken
every Sunday at the church in Corinth. Evidence indicates,
however, that the believers at Corinth were Sabbath keepers.
See Acts 18:1-4, 11. But 1 Cor. 16:2 does not say anything
about a weekly church collection.
What words in our text indicate that Paul is not here
calling for a public collection to be taken up in a church
service?
The money was to be laid aside perhaps at home. The RSV
rendering: "Each of you is to put something aside and store
it up." NEB: "Each of you is to put aside and keep by him a
sum." Phillips: "Let everyone put so much by him." Today's
English Version: "Each of you must put aside some money."
The Roman Catholic New Testament Confraternity Version:
"Let each one of you put aside at home and lay up whatever
he has a mind to." The Jerusalem Bible: "Each one of you must
put aside what he can afford."
Paul was then gathering funds to help the needy saints at
Jerusalem. He planned to stop at Corinth for this purpose, and
he advised the believers there to lay aside some money on the
first day of each week for this relief fund which he would take
to Jerusalem.
Why is it unscriptural to assume that "the Lord's day"
in Rev. 1:10 is Sunday?
The Bible repeatedly states that the seventh day is the
Lord's special day for man. Ex. 20:8-11. God calls it spe-
cifically "my holy day." Isa. 58:13. Jesus declared that He
is the Lord of the Sabbath. Matt. 12:8.
Do I show by the way I use it that from Friday sunset
to Saturday sunset is the Lord's holy day?
The Missing Text
LESSON 5
"It was on the Sabbath that the Lord was preaching to the people in the
of glory appeared to the exiled apos-
towns and cities of Judea."—"The Acts
tle. The Sabbath was as sacredly ob-
of the Apostles," page 581.
served by John on Patmos as when he
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
"Testimonies," Vol. 3, p.
413; "SDA
Bible Commentary,"
Vol. 6, p. 815.
42
❑
Friday
July 28
Part 6
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not
A MAN-MADE knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."
PREDICAMENT
Matt. 22:29
This statement was made in reference to the Sadducees'
ignorance of the resurrection. It could well portray the condi-
tion of those who endeavor today to defend Sunday observ-
ance by the Bible.
If there is Scriptural authority for keeping Sunday, then we
would expect to find it in connection with the eight passages
which specifically mention the first day of the week. But they
contain no Scriptural evidence in favor of the observance of
that day.
What is the decisive test as to what we should follow
in matters of religion? Isa. 8:20.
THINK IT THROUGH
What six things can be said concerning the lack of Biblical
evidence for keeping Sunday?
1.
Christ and His apostles never changed the Sabbath from
the seventh day to the first day of the week.
2.
Jesus and His apostles never observed the first day of
the week as the Sabbath or Lord's day.
3.
There is in the New Testament no divine command to
keep holy the first day of the week.
4.
In the Bible there is no indication that the first day is
to be kept as sacred for any reason.
5.
There is no indication that Sunday observance took the
place of the keeping of the seventh day of the week as holy
during Bible times.
6.
Neither God, Christ, holy angels, nor divinely inspired
men have ever said one word in favor of SundaSr as a holy day.
In direct contrast, the keeping of the seventh day is plainly
commanded by Christ in the Ten Commandments. Ex. 20:8-11.
It is inseparably connected with the acceptance of Christ as
Creator (Ex. 31:16, 17), Saviour (Ezek. 20:12) , and Lord
(Ezek. 20:20; Matt. 12 :8) .
When a person who is keeping Sunday or any other
day finds that there is no Bible authority for it, what
should he do?
"It is the first and highest duty of
walk in the light and encourage others
every rational being to learn from the to follow his example."—"The Great
Scriptures what is truth, and then to
Controversy," page 598.
43
The Missing Text
LESSON 5
The Missing Text
LESSON 5
Part 7 <> SUMMARY QUESTIONS <> TO TEST YOUR STUDY POWER
1.
The first day of the week is mentioned
times in the New Testament.
2.
How many of these first-day texts say anything about Christians keeping
the first day as a weekly holy day)
3.
How many times in Acts is the Sabbath identified as the day on which
Jews and Gentiles assembled for worship? 5? 8? 7? 6?
4.
What day was kept as a rest day after Christ died, and how careful were
His followers in its observance?
5.
Which day of the week is spoken of as the Sabbath in the statement of the
presiding elder at the first recorded Christian council)
6.
In how many places in the Bible is it said that the first day of the week
is the Lord's day)
7.
Where does the Bible show that Christ is inseparably connected with the
keeping of the seventh day)
8.
If a person follows the Bible, and the Bible only, what day will he keep?
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44
LESSON 6
July 30 to August 5
THE ATTEMPTED CHANGE
6
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Heb. 13:8.
Christ never changes. He established the
Sabbath for man upon the seventh day as
an everlasting sign that He is the Lord, the
Creator, and the only Saviour. Therefore
His Sabbath cannot be changed by man,
even as Christ cannot be changed from
being the Lord and the Creator-Saviour.
Men can change and have changed the
practice of the people with regard to the
day of rest. But Christ's Sabbath is still the
last day of the week, as originally estab-
lished by Him. Those who have attempted
to change the Sabbath have by so doing
tried to exalt themselves above the Lord.
Today the vast majority of the followers
of Christ are keeping the first day of the
week, instead of the seventh day which
Christ has appointed in the Decalogue. This
practice raises questions: Who was respon-
sible for this attempted change? When was
it changed? Why was it changed?
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Not Changed by God
Ps. 89:34
2.
Unchanged Under New
Covenant
Jer. 31:31-33
3.
Not Changed by Apostles
Acts 15:21
4.
The Attempt Foretold
Dan. 7:25, ARV
5.
History Confirms Prophecy
Isa. 48:3
6.
A Decisive Test
Rom. 6:16
45
The Attempted Change
LESSON 6
❑
Sunday
July 30
Part 1
"My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that
NOT CHANGED is gone out of my lips."
BY GOD
Ps. 89:34
There is in this world only one code of moral law that came
direct from the lips of God to man. It is the law of Ten
Commandments, which God also wrote with His own finger
on tables of stone.
In the fourth commandment God has said, "The seventh
day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God." Ex. 20:10. Texts
such as Ps. 89:34 declare that God will not alter, or change,
the thing that is gone out of His lips. This implies that God
is not the one who has attempted to change the Sabbath from
the seventh day to the first of the week.
Christ, as the Creator-God (John 1:1-3, 10), made the
seventh day the Sabbath by resting on it, blessing it, and de-
claring it holy. Ex. 20:11; Gen. 2:2, 3. It is unalterably estab-
lished on the last day of the week.
Those who attempt to make Sunday the Christian sabbath
are in effect exalting themselves above God by planning to do
what He Himself has not done or authorized anyone else to do.
The jot
(yod)
is the smallest character in the Hebrew alpha-
bet. A tittle (the tiniest part of a letter of the Greek alphabet)
is even smaller; it is the hook or point of such a letter. It is
small like the dot on the "i" or the cross on the "t." Christ
teaches in Matt. 5:18 that the Ten Commandments cannot be
changed in the least as long as heaven and earth stand. This
shows that Christ did not change the Sabbath from the seventh
day to the first to honor His resurrection.
Christ foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, and it occurred
thirty-nine years afterward, in A.D. 70.
He said, "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter,
neither on the sabbath day." Matt. 24:20. Thus he indicated
that the same seventh-day Sabbath which His disciples were
keeping before His death would still be the Sabbath of the
Lord in A.D. 70, or thirty-nine years after His resurrection.
How has the Lord forbidden men to attempt to change
His commandments? Deut. 4:2; 12:32.
THINK IT THROUGH
Is it my steadfast purpose that by the grace of God
I will obey His commands without any additions or sub-
tractions?
"Here [in Matt. 5:17, 18] He [Christ]
main. The law of God is as immutable
teaches, not merely what the claims of
as His throne. It will maintain its claims
God's law had been, and were then, upon mankind in all ages."—"Patriarchs
but that these claims
should hold as
and Prophets," page 365.
long as the heavens and the earth re-
FOR FURTHER
STUDY: "The Desire of Ages," pages 281-289.
46
The Attempted Change
LESSON 6
Part 2
UNCHANGED UNDER
NEW COVENANT
Jer. 31:31-33
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Monday
July 31
"I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel,
and with the house of Judah: . . . I will put my law in
their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will
be their God, anetthey shall be my people."
"The same law that was engraved upon the tables of stone
is written by the Holy Spirit upon the tables of the heart.
Instead of going about to establish our own righteousness we
accept the righteousness of Christ. . . . Through the grace of
Christ we shall live in obedience to the law of God written
upon our hearts. Having the Spirit of Christ, we shall walk
even as He
walked."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 372.
This shows that under the new covenant God writes upon
the renewed hearts of converted persons the same law of His
Ten Commandments which, in connection with the old cove-
nant with Israel, He had written upon the two tablets of
stone. Thus Christ's seventh-day Sabbath stands unchanged
in the very heart of the Decalogue under the new covenant.
What is the attitude of a converted person toward
God's commandments? Ps. 40:8; Ezek. 11:19, 20; Rom.
7:22.
Some ask, "If the keeping of the seventh day is binding on
Christians, then why is there no command concerning it in the
New Testament?"
"The New Testament does not reenact the law of the tithe,
as it does not that of the Sabbath; for the validity of both is
assumed, and their deep spiritual import explained."—Counsels
on Stewardship,
page 66.
Do I continually maintain so full'a surrender to Christ
that Ps. 40:8 is true every day with me?
Dwight L Moody, the great evange-
list, expressed strong convictions on the
fourth commandment. Here are his
words:
"I honestly believe that this coma
mandment is just as binding to-day C1
-
-
it ever was. I have talked with men
who have said that it has been abro-
gated, but they have never been able
to point to any place in the Bible where
God repealed it. When Christ was on
earth, He did nothing to set it aside....
"The sabbath was binding in Eden,
and it has been in force ever since.
This fourth commandment begins with
,fhe word 'remember,' showing that the
sabbath already existed when God
wrote this law on the tables of stone
at Sinai. How can men claim that this
one commandment has been done
away with when they will admit that
the other nine are still binding?"—
"Weighed and Wanting," pages 46, 47,
quoted in "SDA Source Book," page
860.
47
The Attempted Change
LESSON 6
❑
Tuesday
August 1
Part 3
"For Moses of old time hath in every city them that
NOT CHANGED preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath
BY APOSTLES day."
Acts 15:21
There are still those who say that the apostles introduced
the keeping of Sunday in the place of the seventh day. But the
book of Acts shows that the apostles regarded the seventh day
as the only weekly Sabbath.
There are eight places, in the Acts of the Apostles, where
reference is made to the seventh-day Sabbath: Acts 13:14, 27,
42, 44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:1-4; 18:4. If the apostles had changed
the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week, they
could not have correctly called the seventh day the Sabbath
day. These references in the Acts show that the apostles did
not change the Sabbath.
In three of these references—Acts 13:27; 15:21; 18:4—three
Christian leaders—Paul, James, and Luke—refer to successive
Sabbaths on which devout Jews and Gentiles assembled for
worship as
"every
Sabbath day."
Some ask, "If the keeping of the seventh day is still binding,
how is it that all of the Ten Commandments are repeated in
the New Testament except the Sabbath commandment?"
Only three of the Ten Commandments are repeated verbatim
in the New Testament: the sixth, seventh, and eighth. Does
this mean that the other seven are not binding? Not at all.
It was not necessary for them to be repeated verbatim, or
reenacted, in the New Testament to make them binding.
None of them ever was repealed. None expired by limita-
tion. Hence all of them, including the Sabbath, are binding.
What texts show that the apostles taught that all the
Ten Commandments are to be obeyed by Christians?
James 2:8-12; Rom. 7:7; 13:8-10; Eph. 6:2.
THINK IT THROUGH
Since it was contrary to the will of God for men to at-
tempt to change the true Sabbath, what should be my
attitude toward it?
"Through the setting up of a false
sabbath, the enemy thought to change
times and laws. But has he really suc-
ceeded in changing God's law? The
words of the thirty-first chapter of Ex-
odus are the answer. He who is the
same yesterday, today,
and
forever, has
48
declared of the seventh-day
Sabbath:
'It
is a sign between Me and you
throughout your generations.' 'It is a
sign . . . forever.' Ex. 13:13, 17. The
changed signpost is pointing the wrong
way, but God has not changed."—
"Prophets and Kings," pages 184, 185.
The Attempted Change
LESSON 6
Part 4
THE ATTEMPT
FORETOLD
Dan. 7:25
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Wednesday
August 2
"He shall speak great words against the most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think
to change times and laws."
The context reveals that this prediction refers to a religio-
political power that ruled over Western Europe after the fall
of the Roman Empire in the West. No other power fits the
specifications of the prophecy except the papacy.
What one word in Dan. 7:25 indicates not only a delib-
erate attempt to change the law of God, but also an
inability to change it in reality?
One important measurement of time is the seven-day week,
as stated in the Sabbath command. Changing the times and the
law points to an attempt to change God's Sabbath command-
ment. Roman Catholic spokesmen plainly declare that their
church has changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.
In a popular Catholic book we read:
"Q.
Which is the Sabbath day?
"A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.
"Q.
Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
"A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the
Catholic Church . . . transferred the solemnity from Saturday
to Sunday."—Peter Geiermann,
The Convert's Catechism of
Catholic Doctrine,
1957 ed., page 50.
Thus the Catholic Church admits making this change, as
was forecast in Dan. 7:25. Many have noted that in practice
the churches keep Sunday, the first day, when the Ten Com-
mandments say, "The seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord
thy God."
How can a person keeping Sunday correct this dis-
crepancy between his practice and God's commandment?
"The soul who keeps the Sabbath is
stamped with the sign of God's gov-
ernment, and he must not dishonor this
sign. By closely examining the Word of
God, we may know whether we have
the King's mark, whether we have been
chosen and set apart to honor God....
"God will never, never allow any
man to pass through the pearly gates
4—A3QT.72
of the City of God who does not bear
the signet of the faithful, His govern-
ment mark. . . .
"God will never insure a man for
everlasting life whose anchor is not
securely fastened to heaven's unalter-
able law."—"Medical Ministry," page
123.
49
The Attempted Change
LESSON 6
❑
Thursday
August 3
Part 5
"I have declared the former things from the beginning;
HISTORY CONFIRMS and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them;
PROPHECY I did them suddenly, and they came to pass."
Isa. 48:3
We find light on future events in the prophecies of the Bible
for our day. This prophecy, "He . . . shall think to change the
times and the law" (Dan. 7:25, RSV), is one key for unlocking
the Sabbath truth as it pertains to our day. "The change in the
fourth commandment exactly fulfills this prophecy."—The
Great Controversy,
page 446.
History confirms this prophecy. The establishment of Sun-
day observance instead of that of the Sabbath was accom-
plished principally under the leadership and domination of the
Roman power.
Dr. Nicholas Summerbell, a founding father of the denomi-
nation known as the Disciples of Christ, wrote a
History of
Christians,
in which he says: "The Roman Church . . . has
reversed the fourth commandment, by doing away with the
Sabbath of God's word, and instituting Sunday as a holiday."
—Pages 417, 418.
Some ask, "When was the Sabbath changed?" No exact
date can be given, for in its effect it was a gradual change that
took place most significantly from about A.D. 150 to 400.
Christians generally did not refrain from ordinary labor on
Sunday until the first Sunday law was issued by Constantine
the Great in A.D. 321. The church Council of Laodicea a little
later decreed that Christians should not be idle on the Sabbath
and, if possible, should abstain from work on Sunday.
What does Christ say about those who follow tradi-
tion in violation of His commandments? Mark 7:7-13.
Every Christian should reject this unscriptural change of
Christ's Sabbath commandment. In love for Him he should
say, "As for me, I will take my stand for Christ's seventh-day
Sabbath as commanded in the Ten Commandments."
THINK IT THROUGH
Why is it vain to believe in the validity of the Ten
Commandments and not keep the seventh day? James
2:10.
"Satan says, . . . 'Thus I will show
the world that the day sanctified and
blessed by God has been changed....
I will obliterate the memory of it. I
will place in its stead a day that does
not bear the credentials of God, a day
that cannot be a sign between God and
His people. I will lead those who ac-
cept this day to place upon it the sanc-
tity that God placed upon the seventh
day.' "—"Prophets and Kings," pages
183, 184.
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
"Prophets and Kings," pages 179, 180.
50
The Attempted Change
LESSON 6
❑
Friday
August 4
Part 6
"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves
A DECISIVE TEST servants to obey,
his
servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righ-
Rom. 6:16 teousness?"
This is a decisive statement. It reveals that all people by
their own choice arrange themselves on one of two sides, either
for the Lord Jesus Christ or for Satan.
What, according to Rom. 6:16, shows whose servants
we are?
Every soul settles his eternal destiny, for heaven or hell,
by whether his faith in Christ leads him to choose to obey
Christ. The real test is submission to the rightful supremacy
of the Son of God versus the assumed supremacy of Satan.
In this closing age God has ordained that this test concern-
ing the Sabbath truth shall come to every soul. Christ has ap-
pointed His Sabbath as a sign of His supremacy as our Creator
and God and our only Saviour. The attempted change of the
Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday stands as a sign of the
unwarranted attempt by the papal power to assume supremacy
in religious matters.
This presents a decisive test to every soul. Will your faith
lead you to accept the sign of Christ's authority by keeping
the seventh day as He commands? Or will you in unbelief fol-
low the sign of the papal authority by keeping Sunday as it
directs?
This issue of whether a person keeps the seventh day or the
first means far more than whether a person rests on Saturday
or Sunday. It involves a choice between acceptance of the
rightful supremacy of the Son of God over one's life and sub-
mission to the assumed supremacy of the papal power. It
means a decision for or against Christ as our supreme Lord.
On what basis should we decide this Sabbath ques-
tion? Acts 5:29.
THINK IT THROUGH
Why should a person not halt between two opinions
in this matter? 1 Kings 18:21.
"Only by changing God's law could
the papacy exalt itself above God;
whoever should understandingly keep
the law as thus changed would be giv-
ing supreme honor to that power by
which the change was made. Such an
act of obedience to papal laws would
be a mark of allegiance to the pope in
the place of God."—"The Great Con-
troversy," page 446.
FOR FURTHER
STUDY:
"Prophets and Kings," pages 180-184.
51
/
\
\
vvv
,
WHY NOT ANY DAY?
7
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish
ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which
I command you." Deut. 4:2.
The Word of God by precepts, promises,
and illustrations repeatedly stresses the fact
that God requires implicit obedience to His
commands. They were given for our good
both here and hereafter. These divine guide-
lines are needed more than ever in this time
of permissiveness and situation ethics.
It is commonly believed that it makes no
difference which day in the week a Chris-
tian observes as the Lord's day, and that
the main thing is that he keep one day in
the seven as sacred. Many declare that it
matters not whether one keeps any day.
It is true that the Lord does not compel
a person to observe the true Sabbath. He
has left every man free to choose whether
or not he will obey God. But let none con-
clude that God has left it to man to deter-
mine which is the right day to keep.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Creator Settles It
Ex. 20:10, 11
2.
Optional Yearly Sabbaths
Rom. 14:5, 6
3.
Typical System Abolished
Col. 2:16, 17
4.
Situation Ethics Inadequate
Prov. 16:25
5.
God Is Particular
Matt. 7:21
6.
Judged According to Light
John 9:41
53
Why Not Any Day?
LESSON 7
❑
Tuesday
August
8
Part 3
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink,
TYPICAL SYSTEM or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of
ABOLISHED the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come;
Col. 2:16, 17
but the body is of Christ."
Some have used this scripture in attempting to prove that
the obligation to observe the seventh-day Sabbath ended at
the cross. Such an interpretation is unsound. Why? Because the
Bible does not actually teach such a thing.
In a former lesson we noted eight places in the book of
Acts where the seventh-day Sabbath is spoken of during the
decades that followed Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. If
the seventh-day Sabbath had been abolished at the cross, then
the Word of God would not thereafter refer to the seventh day
as the Sabbath.
" 'Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on
the Sabbath day,' Christ said. He who made the Sabbath did
not abolish it, nailing it to His cross. The Sabbath was not
rendered null and void by His death. Forty years after His
crucifixion it was still to be held sacred. For forty years the
disciples were to pray that their flight might not be on the
Sabbath
day."—The Desire of Ages,
page 630.
How does the context of Col. 2:16, 17 show that it
applies to the abolition of the Jewish typical system at
the cross? Col. 2:14, 16, 17.
THINK IT THROUGH
Paul is dealing in part with a similar problem in Rom.
14:5, 6. The yearly holy days of the ceremonial law are not
binding on Christians. The Jewish ceremonial system met its
fulfillment in Christ. Therefore Christians are not obligated
to present the burnt offerings, the meal and drink offerings, to
observe the new moons, the annual feast days, and the yearly
sabbaths.
How does the origin of the Sabbath in Eden show that
it cannot be included among those typical, yearly Sab-
baths which were a shadow of things to come?
"There is no evidence from this pas-
sage that he [Paul] would teach that
there was no obligation to observe
any
holy time, for there is not the slightest
reason to believe that he meant to teach
that one of the ten commandments had
:eased to be binding on mankind. . . .
He had his eye on the great number of
days which were observed by the He-
brews as festivals, as a part of their
ceremonial and typical law, and not
to the moral law, or the ten command-
ments."—Dr. Albert Barnes, quoted in
"SDA Bible Commentary," on Col. 2:17.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "SDA Bible Commentary," on Col. 2:14-16.
56
Why Not Any Day?
LESSON 7
Part 4
SITUATION ETHICS
INADEQUATE
Prov. 16:25
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Wednesday
August 9
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the
end thereof are the ways of death."
Many people make their decision concerning the Sabbath
question by a form of situation ethics. They think the keeping
of Sunday, motivated by love, is proper under present-day cir-
cumstances. Hence they deem it unnecessary to make any
Biblical investigation of the subject.
Prov. 16:25 shows the danger in deciding our course by
principles of situation ethics, and the fatal results of following
such a course. The way may seem right to a person, but it
ends in destruction.
Can he who depends entirely upon his own reason-
ing find the right way? Jer. 10:23.
The notion behind situation ethics is not new. To a degree
Eve made the first human experiment with it in Eden. It
seemed right to her understanding of love, under the circum-
stances, to eat the fruit from the Lord's reserved tree. Yet it
was the worst thing she could have done.
Six thousand years of misery and suffering have come upon
humanity because Eve reasoned that it wouldn't do any harm
to eat the fruit of the Lord's reserved tree. "She disbelieved
the words of God, and this was what led to her fall."—
Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 55.
In matters of clear-cut moral duty, God has dealt with the
inadequacy of situation ethics. He commanded, "Ye shall
not
do . . . every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes." Deut.
12:8. This verse of scripture overthrows the philosophy of
situation ethics insofar as our duty to God is concerned.
Some ask, "If I am not to do what I think is right, what
shall I do?" The Lord tells you what to do: "Observe . . . all
these words which I command thee, that it may go well with
thee, . . . when thou doest that which is good and right in
the sight of the Lord thy God." Deut. 12:28. When the appli-
cation of His law seems impossible, He will guide us if we
are willing.
Am I fully committed to follow only what is right in
the sight of God, as defined in His Word?
"We may disguise poison by min- awares. It is one of Satan's devices to
gling it with wholesome food, but we combine with falsehood just enough
do not change its nature. On the con-
truth to give it plausibility."—"The
trary, it is rendered more dangerous, Great Controversy," page 587.
as it is more likely to be taken un-
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "Patriarchs and Prophets," pages 71-73, 359-362.
57
Why Not Any Day?
LESSON 7
❑
Thursday
August 10
Part 5
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
GOD IS PARTICULAR enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the
Matt. 7:21
will of my Father which is in heaven."
The Lord is particular about how we cooperate with His
plan to work in us for true obedience to all His commandments.
The Bible shows that admittance into heaven calls for this.
Jesus says that many who perform wonderful works in His
name will be denied entrance into heaven because they have
disobeyed some of His commandments. Matt. 7:22, 23.
Many are unaware of what is involved in their own in-
dividual cases in this matter of the Sabbath versus Sunday.
It is not merely a choice as to which day one shall observe as
God's holy Sabbath.
The real issue is obedience versus disobedience, faith versus
unbelief. Shall I obey the Lord in keeping the seventh day as
He directs in Ex. 20:8-11? Or shall I obey man in keeping the
first day? In this case the only right decision for a Christian
to make is to obey Christ.
What is the difference in the end between obeying
Christ and disobeying Him? Heb. 5:9; Rev. 22:14; 21:8.
What does Christ want us to do above all else? Deut.
5:29; 10:12, 13; John 14:15, 21.
THINK IT THROUGH
The idea that it makes no difference which day one keeps,
just so he observes a day, lacks validity, even as does the false
proposition that it makes no difference which god a person
worships, just so he worships a god. The underlying issue in
each case is obedience to God versus disobedience. Whom shall
I obey as supreme?
Christians need to realize from the Scriptures how the keep-
ing of the seventh day is Christ's appointed way whereby we
show our faith in Him as our Creator-Saviour. This shows
that making a lasting decision to keep His Sabbath is one of
the best things any person can do.
Why does Christ want to see obedience in me above
all else? John 15:14; Deut. 6:24.
"It is the grossest presumption for
mortal man to venture upon a com-
promise with the Almighty in order to
secure his own petty, temporal interests.
It is as ruthless a violation of the law
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "Testimonies," Vol.
58
to occasionally use the Sabbath for
secular business as to entirely reject
it; for it is making the Lord's command-
ments a matter of convenience."—"Tes-
timonies," Vol. 4, p. 249.
4, pp. 247-251.
Why Not Any Day?
LESSON 7
❑
Friday
August 11
Part 6
"Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should
JUDGED ACCORD- have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin
ING TO LIGHT remaineth."
John 9:41
God judges every soul according to the light and oppor-
tunities he has had for obeying the truth. If a person has had
no opportunity to learn about the true Sabbath, he will not
be condemned for keeping the wrong day through ignorance.
Acts 17:30. Condemnation comes when a person willfully re-
fuses to obey the truth. John 3:19.
THINK IT THROUGH
What is the situation when a person knows what is
right and fails to do it? James 4:17.
The true Christian obeys the truth when the Word of God
points it out. John 8:47; Luke 8:15. God's eye is on every
honest soul in every country. 2 Chron. 16:9. He will lead such
ones into a fuller knowledge of truth.
How is the vital matter of our cleansing from sin af-
fected by our walking in the light, obeying truth as it
comes to us? 1 John 1:7.
What plain Biblical evidences show the inseparable connec-
tion between keeping the seventh day and obeying Jesus
Christ?
1.
The seventh day is the only day of the week that Christ, as
our Creator, ever sanctified, or set apart as holy, for man to
observe.
2.
The seventh day is the only day of the week that the
Son of God ever blessed or hallowed for man.
3.
The seventh day is the only day of the week that Christ,
as the Lord of the Ten Commandments, has ever commanded
any Christian to keep as holy.
4.
The seventh day is the only day of the week that the
Lord has appointed us to keep as the sign that He is our
Creator-God and only Saviour.
If a person is determined to do what the Lord wants
him to do, which is the only day he will honor?
"As the tree of knowledge was the people."—Ellen G. White Comments,
test of Adam's obedience, so the fourth "SDA Bible Commentary," Vol. 1, p.
command is the test that God has 1106.
given to prove the loyalty of all His
59
RIGHT DAY-WRONG WAY
"And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the
sabbath." Mark 2:27.
When Christ lived among the Jews at His
first advent, the Sabbath they were keeping
corresponded to the day which 'the Romans
called the day of Saturn (or Saturday).
Christ's example made it clear that this is
the right day to observe. He kept it and
defended it against those who misused it.
It is the Lord's day for man—the day
blessed and sanctified, or set apart as holy,
by Christ our Creator when He made the
world.
The Gospels contain no record of any
disagreement between Jesus and the Phari-
sees concerning which day of the week is
the right day to observe. He and His dis-
ciples observed the same seventh day of
the week that the Jews did. The contro-
versy between Him and His opponents was
concerning the
manner
in which this Sab-
bath day should be kept. They were observ-
ing the right day in the wrong way.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Senseless Restrictions
Luke 13:14
2.
A False Charge
John 9:16
3.
Remedy for Legalism
Gal. 2:16
4.
Letter or Spirit
Rom. 7:6
5.
Grace Produces Obedience
Rom. 3:31
6.
A Continuing Sign
Ex. 31:17
61
Right Day—Wrong Way
LESSON 8
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Sunday
August 13
"And the ruler of the synagogue answered with in-
dignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath
day, and said unto the people, There are six days in
which men ought to work: in them therefore come and
be healed, and not on the sabbath day."
The Jewish religious leaders considered it a sin to heal a
crippled person on the Sabbath. Isn't this surprising? It shows
the senseless extremes to which people will go when they lose
the spirit of true religion in a sterile system of righteousness
by works. They had buried the proper keeping of the right
day under a long list of senseless restrictions of their own
devising. Jesus swept away these burdensome man-made ex-
actions. He restored to men the true objective of Sabbath
keeping.
How did Christ refute their charge that He and His
disciples broke the Sabbath? Luke 13:14-17; 14:1-6; Matt.
12:1-8.
How did He sweep away their exacting man-made
regulations concerning the Sabbath? Matt. 12:12, last
part.
Jesus was a Sabbath reformer, not by changing the day
which is to be kept, but by showing how it is to be observed.
Today God's remnant are called by Him to be Sabbath re-
formers, both as to the identity of His true Sabbath and as
to the manner of true Sabbath keeping.
In the case of the Jews, how did their burdensome
restrictions concerning Sabbath observance reveal their
wrong concept of God?
Part 1
SENSELESS
RESTRICTIONS
Luke 13:14
"As the Jews departed from God,
and failed to make the righteousness
of Christ their own by faith, the Sab-
bath lost its significance to them. Satan
was seeking to exalt himself and to
draw men away from Christ, and he
worked to pervert the Sabbath, because
it is the sign of the power of Christ. The
Jewish leaders accomplished the will
of Satan by surrounding God's rest day
with burdensome requirements. In the
days of Christ the Sabbath had become
so perverted that its observance re-
flected the character of selfish and arbi-
trary men rather than the character of
the loving heavenly Father. The rabbis
virtually represented God as giving
laws which it was impossible for men
to obey. They led the people to look
upon God as a tyrant, and to think
that the observance of the Sabbath, as
He required it, made men hardhearted
and cruel. It was the work of Christ to
clear away these misconceptions."—
"The Desire of Ages," pages 283, 284.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages," pages 281-284.
62
Right Day—Wrong
Way
LESSON 8
❑
Monday
August 14
Part 2
"Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not
A FALSE CHARGE of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day."
John 9:16
This does not prove that Christ broke the Sabbath. It does
say that His enemies accused Him of doing that. It simply
records the false charge of Sabbath breaking that the Pharisees
brought against Him.
He who accuses Christ of breaking the Sabbath arrays the
Saviour against Himself. Why? Because He, as the Creator,
set it apart as holy for man in the beginning. Gen. 2:2, 3;
Mark 2:27. He is the Lord God who requires in the Ten Com-
mandments that we keep it holy. He did break the burden-
some regulations which the Jewish leaders had made concern-
ing Sabbath observance. But He rightly kept the Sabbath as
required in the Old Testament.
How do we know that Christ kept the Sabbath ac-
cording to God's commandments? 1 Peter 2:21; John
15:10.
What did His enemies decide to do when Christ re-
fused to keep the Sabbath according to their ideas?
John 5:16-18.
The Orthodox Jew today reckons the Sabbath from sunset
Friday evening to sunset Saturday evening. But he does not
keep this right day in the right way, because he does not have
the Lord of the Sabbath. One cannot keep the Sabbath of the
Lord correctly unless he has this Lord living in him. And no
one can have the Lord living in him until he has been born
again as a result of believing in Christ as his personal Saviour.
THINK IT THROUGH
Consider John 5:16 in the light of Rev. 13:15. What
test will the remnant finally face as a result of refusing
to keep the counterfeit sabbath?
"Those who hold that Christ abol-
ished the law teach that He broke the
Sabbath and justified His disciples in
doing the same. Thus they are really
taking the same ground as did the
caviling Jews. In this they contradict
the testimony of Christ Himself, who
declared, 'I have kept My Father's com-
mandments, and abide in His love.'
John 15:10. Neither the Saviour nor His
followers broke the law of the Sabbath.
Christ was a living representative of
the law. No violation of its holy pre-
cepts was found in His life. Looking
upon a nation of witnesses who were
seeking occasion to condemn Him, He
could say unchallenged, 'which of you
convicteth Me of sin?' John 8:46, R.V."
—"The Desire of Ages," page 287.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages," pages 285-287.
63
❑
Wednesday
August 16
"But now we are delivered from the law, that being
dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in
newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
Some claim that living in the newness of the spirit, and not
in the oldness of the letter, means that one may violate the
letter of the Decalogue while obeying it in spirit. They apply
this false reasoning to the Sabbath commandment; they insist
that living in the newness of the spirit means that they need
not keep the exact seventh day as specified in the letter and
that keeping Sunday is carrying out the spirit of the law.
Right Day—Wrong Way
LESSON 8
Part 4
LETTER OR SPIRIT
Rom. 7:6
1).
How did Christ show that a person may obey the
commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," according to the
letter, but be living in violation of the spirit of that com-
mand? Matt. 5:21-23, 43, 44.
He who is honest according to the spirit of the command,
"Thou shall not steal," will not act contrary to the letter of it.
A person may follow the letter of the law and yet not obey
the spirit of it. But no person who obeys the law in spirit will
live contrary to the letter of it. Let no one deceive himself in
this. There is no such thing as keeping the Sabbath in spirit
while directly violating the letter of the Sabbath precept.
The spirit of true Sabbath keeping is a manifestation of
supreme love to Christ as our Creator and Saviour. By His
creative power a penitent sinner is made into a new person.
Then he must let Christ sanctify him by His indwelling pres-
ence every day. Thus his Sabbath keeping becomes a real sign
that Christ the Saviour is his Creator-Sanctifier.
THINK IT THROUGH
Does my Christianity go beyond the letter of the law
and into the deeper, inner spirit of it for true obedience?
"In the new birth the heart is brought
into harmony with God, as it is brought
into accord with His law. When this
mighty change has taken place in the
sinner, he has passed from death unto
life, from sin unto holiness, from trans-
gression and rebellion to obedience and
loyalty. The old life of alienation from
God has ended; the new life of recon-
ciliation, of faith and love, has begun.
Then 'the righteousness of the law' will
'be fulfilled in us, who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit.' Ronians
8:4. And the language of the soul will
be: '0 how love I Thy law! it is my
meditation all the day.'" Psalm 119:
97.—"The Great Controversy," page
468.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages ," pages 309, 310.
65
Right Day—Wrong
Way
LESSON 8
❑
Thursday
August 17
Part 5
"Do we then make void the law through faith? God
GRACE PRODUCES forbid: yea, we establish the law."
OBEDIENCE
Rom. 3:31
A doctrine that is half true and half false is very dangerous.
The citing of a few Scriptures to support such a doctrine mis-
leads many who do not know the real teachings of the Bible.
It is for our eternal good that we know what is the real truth
in Christ.
Some say, "A Christian is not under the law, but under
grace. Hence he doesn't need to keep the seventh day as speci-
fied in the Ten Commandments." The first part of this state-
ment is true; but the second part is false. This is an example
of the way many are led to accept doctrines that are half true
and half false.
How does Paul in Rom. 3:31 show that salvation by
grace only, and justification by faith only, do not su-
persede the obligation to keep God's commandments?
What positive evidence is there to show that being
under grace does not mean that a person is free to live
contrary to God's moral law? Rom. 6:14, 15.
THINK IT THROUGH
A converted person is not under the
condemnation
of the
law, but under grace. This is the case only when sin—the trans-
gression of God's law—is no longer the ruling factor in his
life. Notice the word "for" in verse 14.
Does being under grace give a person license to steal, lie,
swear, commit adultery, or worship false gods? Certainly not.
God's Ten Commandments forbidding these things are binding
forever upon all. So being under grace does not release a be-
liever from keeping the seventh-day Sabbath which God or-
dained in the Ten Commandments.
When a believer receives Christ for his justification, then by
grace the work of sanctification begins. Christ has appointed
the keeping of His Sabbath as a sign of this continuing process
of sanctification. Ezek. 20:12.
Is my Sabbath keeping such that it is an outward
sign of the operation of God's grace working in me for
my progressive sanctification?
"The claim that Christ by His death
men from the penalty of sin. The death
abolished His Father's law is without
of Christ, so far from abolishing the
foundation. Had it been possible for
law, proves that it is immutable."—"The
the law to be changed or set aside, Great Controversy," page 466.
then Christ need not have died to save
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Great Controversy," pages 466-468.
66
Part 6
A CONTINUING
SIGN
Ex. 31:17
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Friday
August 18
"It [the Sabbath] is a sign between me and the chil-
dren of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made
heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested,
and was refreshed."
This scripture says distinctly that the Sabbath is a sign
between God and the children of Israel forever. Some have
concluded from this that the Sabbath pertained to the Jewish
people solely and exclusively. However, the text shows that
the Sabbath is such a sign because God is the Creator of heaven
and earth. And this basic reason is applicable to every soul on
earth.
The Bible repeatedly refers to the only true God as the
God of Israel. Does this mean that the true God is exclusively
for the Jews? He is certainly the only true God for every soul.
So the observance of God's true Sabbath by the Jews does
not preclude its being the only true Sabbath for every soul.
God committed His system of truth—including His Ten
Commandments, His Sabbath, and the entrance of His Son into
human form—to the Jews because the Hebrew people had
been called to witness for Him to all people.
How does the Word point out that all Gentiles and
Jews who truly accept Christ are counted as Israelites
by the Lord? Gal. 3:29, 7; Rom. 9:6-8.
What shows that the twelve tribes of spiritual Israel
continue throughout eternity? Rev. 21:12; Matt. 19:28.
Thus the Lord's declaration that His Sabbath was made for
man (Isa. 56:2, 5, 6) and is a sign between Him and Israel
forever is conclusive evidence that it is a continuing sign of
allegiance to Christ as our Creator throughout eternity in the
earth made new (Isa. 66:22, 23).
The Sabbath rests on one immutable, unshakable, indivisi-
ble, and everlasting pillar—Christ our Creator and our Sanc-
tifier. Ex. 31:17, 13 presents such a pillar.
Does my Sabbath keeping reveal that I am a true
subject of Christ's creative and redemptive power?
Right Day—Wrong Way
LESSON 8
"Speaking of Israel, He said,
'I
gave
power to make us holy. And it is given
them My Sabbaths, to be a sign be-
to all whom Christ makes holy. As a
tween Me and them, that they might sign of His sanctifying power, the Sab-
know that I am the Lord that sanctify
bath is given to all who through Christ
them,'—make them holy. Ezek. 20:12.
become a part of the Israel of God."
Then the Sabbath is a sign of Christ's —"The Desire of Ages," page 288.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages ," pages 287-289.
67
89
Answers: (1) right, wrong; (2) the Ten Commandments, burdensome regulations on how to keep
it; (3) sanctified by the Lord; (4) spirit, letter; (5) Rom. 6:14, 15; (6) Christ the Creator, Christ
the Sanctifier; (7) spiritual (or both, because literal could also be spiritual).
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LESSON 9
August
20-26
11
(
RECEIVING THE DOUBLE BLESSING
9
"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it." Gen. 2:3.
"Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on
it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing
any evil." Isa. 56:2.
A blessed day and a blessed person meet
in true Sabbath keeping. The Creator
placed a special blessing on the seventh day
after He had rested
at the close of the first
week. The seventh day in each of succes-
sive weeks to come was blessed for man.
And this blessing is still on every seventh
day of the week for everyone who keeps
it holy.
Then there is God's promise: "Blessed is
the man . . . that keepeth the Sabbath from
polluting it." We need this double Messing
as never before to fulfill His plan for our
lives.
Christ's Sabbath is His meeting point for
bestowing His double blessing upon the
faithful believer. Each person determines the
measure of this divine blessing for himself
by how he meets Christ in His Sabbath.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Sabbath Reform
Isa. 56:6
2.
Protecting the Edges
Lev. 23:32
3.
Preparation Day
Mark 15:42
4.
Safe Guiding Principles
Josh. 1:8
5.
Dominates the Week
Ex. 20:8-10
6.
Great Promises
Isa. 58:13,14
69
Receiving the Double Blessing
LESSON 9
El Sunday
August 20
Part 1
"Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves
SABBATH REFORM to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the
Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sab-
Isa. 56:6 bath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant."
This prophecy of Isaiah is quoted in
The Great Controversy,
page 451, where this statement is made: "The work of Sabbath
reform to be accomplished in the last days is foretold in the
prophecy of Isaiah."
The substitution of Sunday keeping in place of the seventh
day of the Ten Commandments makes a breach in one's full
commitment to his Creator-Saviour and His law. Also, it takes
away the seal from His law. This makes a God-appointed Sab-
bath reform movement a necessity in this closing period of
time. His remnant will restore the seal to His law. Isa. 8:16, 17.
What does prophecy say about God's people repair-
ing this breach by keeping the right day in the right
way? Isa. 58:12, 13.
Note that being a repairer of the breach, as stated in verse
12, is expressly conditioned upon the 'Sabbath reform of verse
13.
In this age of permissiveness and lukewarmness there is a
growing trend among many Sabbath keepers to keep the sev-
enth-day in a careless manner as most others keep Sunday.
They make it a holiday rather than the Lord's holy day. Every
Sabbath keeper is called to resist such a departure from Christ's
way. Carelessness in Sabbath keeping begets carelessness in
obedience to God's other requirements, in talking, eating,
drinking, dressing, associations, recreation, et cetera.
What is the sad result when a believer's actions con-
tradict his profession? Rom. 2:21-24; 2 Tim. 3:1-5.
THINK IT THROUGH
Is my Sabbath keeping such that it bears the right
testimony for
the
Lord of the Sabbath?
"It [the fourth commandment] de-
clares Him [God] to be the Creator of
the heavens and the earth, and thus
shows His claim to reverence and wor-
ship above all others. Aside from this
precept, there is nothing in the Deca-
logue to show by whose authority the
law is given. When the Sabbath was
changed by the papal power, the seal
was taken from the law. The disciples
of Jesus are called upon to restore it
by exalting the Sabbath of the fourth
commandment to its rightful position
as the Creator's memorial and the sign
of His authority."—"The Great Contro-
versy," page 452.
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
"The Great Controversy," pages 451-455.
70
Receiving the Double Blessing
LESSON 9
❑
Monday
August
21
Part 2
"It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall
PROTECTING afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even,
THE EDGES from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath."
Lev. 23:32
This was the rule for the reckoning of the yearly ceremonial
sabbath of the Day of Atonement. But the same rule—from
evening unto evening, or from sunset to sunset—applies also for
beginning and ending the weekly seventh-day Sabbath. Christ's
Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on
Saturday.
What did Nehemiah, as governor of Jerusalem, do
to protect the edges of the Sabbath? Neh. 13:19.
THINK IT THROUGH
Those who wait until Saturday morning to begin their
observance of the Sabbath have only a partial Sabbath, which
really is not right. No one can keep the Sabbath unless he
begins its observance when it commences at sunset. If he begins
its observance one or two hours after sunset, he is lagging
behind the Lord's schedule. Those who go through the gates
into the New Jerusalem at the end will not lag behind His
schedule.
There is no better way to protect the edges of the Sabbath
than to gather around the family altar for worship at sunset
on Friday and again at sunset on Saturday. How fitting it is,
at the moment of sunset on Friday, to welcome the Sabbath
with praise and,prayer as it arrives.
This sets the 'tempo for closer fellowship with God during
the Sabbath day. It serves to instill a spirit of reverent regard
for its sacred hours.
Then how fitting also at sunset on Saturday to have a season
of special worship, to thank God for the blessings of this Sab-
bath and to ask for His special help to live right during each
day of the next week until we welcome another Sabbath at
the next Friday sunset. Thus special prayer at sunset at the
commencement and again at its close serves to mark off each
Sabbath as Christ's holy day in closer fellowship with Him.
Do I protect the edges of the Sabbath in my way of
life?
"God is very particular, and all who
bless them as it would be His pleasure
think that they are saving a little time,
to do, for His name is dishonored by
or advantaging themselves by infring-
them, His precepts lightly esteemed."
ing a little on the Lord's time, will meet
—"Testimonies," Vol. 1, p. 532.
with loss sooner or later. He cannot
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "Testimonies," Vol. 1, pp. 531-533.
71
ieceiving the Double Blessing
LESSON 9
❑
Wednesday
August 23
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy
mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,
that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is
written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way pros-
perous, and then thou shalt have good success."
Does the Bible show that there should be no buying
or selling on God's holy day? Neh. 13:15-18.
What example did Christ leave for us in regularly
attending divine worship on the Sabbath? Luke 4:16, 31;
Mark 1:20, 21. See also Lev. 23:3.
every Sabbath. So it will be a part of our way onifr;r
ien
It was a part of the life of Jesus to attend p_itlalic worship
we closely follow His way,
Jesus doubtless walked out tch see the beauties of nature on
the Sabbath, but not at the time of the Sabbath worship
service.
All that is permissible on the Sabbath is wrapped into
doing well, which was His guiding principle. Matt. 12:12. Re-
lieving the afflicted and doing deeds of kindness and acts of
mercy are in accord with this principle. A safe rule is this: Do
not leave any secular work to be done on the Sabbath that
can be done during the six working days.
Do I plan my Sabbath observance in accordance with
THINK IT THROUGH
these counsels?
Part 4
SAFE GUIDING
PRINCIPLES
Josh. 1:8
t$.
The Sabbath should be the most joy-
ful day of the week ("Testimonies,"
Vol. 6, p. 359), the sweetest and most
blessed day of the week ("Child Guid-
ance," page 532), the most interesting
day of the week at home ("Testimo-
nies," Vol. 2, p. 584).
Mind and body should be withdrawn
from worldly business before the Sab-
bath begins ("Ibid.," Vol. 6, p. 356).
Allow no burdens and business trans-
actions to divert the mind upon the
Sabbath ("Ibid.," Vol. 2, p. 583).
Overeating on the Sabbath dishonors
God. Sabbath meals should be simple,
palatable, and attractive, with some-
thing special as a treat ("Ibid.," Vol. 6,
p. 357).
The Sabbath is desecrated by plea-
sure seeking ("Ibid.," Vol. 2, p. 584),
hurrying, jostling, and impatience
("Ibid.," Vol. 6, p. 357), pursuit of
school studies ("Ibid.," Vol. 4, p. 114),
or by reading secular papers or books
("Ibid.," Vol. 6, p. 355) or by being in
a hurry for the sun to set in order to
resume business or sports (Amos 8:5).
Work neglected until the commence-
ment of the Sabbath should remain
undone until the Sabbath is past ("Pa-
triarchs and Prophets," page 296).
73
Receiving the Double Blessing
LESSON 9
❑
Thursday
August 24
Part 5
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days
DOMINATES shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh
THE WEEK day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt
Ex. 20:8-10 not do any work."
One main objective of the Sabbath observance is that man
may continually remember the Lord Jesus Christ as his Crea-
tor-Saviour. Thus remembering the Sabbath is not limited to
the twenty-four-hour period of its observance during the end
of the week. It projects itself into the entire week, as a part
of our everyday commitment to our Creator-Saviour.
Your paper boy tells you on Sunday, "This month ends on
Saturday. I will stop then to collect." But you say, "Saturday
is for me the Lord's Sabbath. Please be so kind as to call either
Friday or Sunday and I will pay you." Or, "Let me pay you
now, and avoid a special trip." Thus you are remembering the
Sabbath on the first day of the week.
On Monday your dealer telephones that the refrigerator
which you ordered will be delivered next Saturday morning.
But you tell him that you are a Seventh-day Adventist and
that you don't transact any business on Saturday because you
observe it as the Lord's Sabbath. Suggest he bring it out Friday
morning or Monday or on the dealer's next convenient day.
In this you are remembering the Sabbath on Monday.
Perhaps on Wednesday a neighbor calls to say, "My little
girl has a birthday Saturday. We will have a picnic at the
park to celebrate it with a lot of games and a big dinner. We
invite you to come along." But you say, "Thanks for remem-
bering me in your plans. But Saturday is the Lord's Sabbath
for me, and although I appreciate the invitation, I must de-
cline your kindness." You are remembering the Sabbath on
Wednesday.
"All through the week we are to have the Sabbath in mind
and be making preparation to keep it according to the com-
mandment."—Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 353.
What great importance did the Lord attach to the
keeping of the Sabbath in reference to the fate of Jeru-
salem in Jeremiah's day? Jer. 17:21-27.
THINK IT THROUGH
Does my "remembering" the Sabbath all through the
week bring me daily closer to God?
"Friday is the day of preparation.
Time can then be devoted to making
the necessary preparation for the Sab-
bath and to thinking and conversing
about it. Nothing which will in the sight
74
of Heaven be regarded as a violation
of the holy Sabbath should be left un-
said or undone, to be said or done upon
the Sabbath."—"Testimonies," Vol. 2,
pp. 702, 703.
Receiving the Double Blessing
LESSON 9
❑
Friday
August 25
Part 6
"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from
GREAT PROMISES doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath
a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt
honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine
own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt
thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to
ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee
with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of
Isa. 58:13, 14
the Lord hath spoken it."
Here God makes three promises to those who truly hallow
His Sabbath. (1) "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the
Lord"—true and abiding happiness. (2) "I will cause thee to
ride upon the high places of the earth"—spiritual prosperity.
(3) "I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father"
—an eternal home in the new earth.
The word "heritage" means an estate that a person receives
by descent or as an inheritance. The inheritance of Jacob is
that of Isaac his father, whose inheritance is that of his father
Abraham. The real inheritance of Abraham is the new earth.
Rom. 4:13; Heb. 11:13-16. Those who are truly Christ's are
fellow heirs with them to this inheritance. Gal. 3:29.
What greater promise could God make to those who hallow
His Sabbath than to give them the heritage of Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob—an eternal home in the new earth? It will be free
from all sickness, sorrow, trouble, and death. How much is it
worth? What an encouragement for every true Sabbath keeper!
"It means eternal salvation to keep the Sabbath holy unto the
Lord."—Testimonies,
Vol. 6, p. 356.
What three things does God specify that we are not
to do on the Sabbath, if we would have His three prom-
ises fulfilled to us? Isa. 58:13, 14.
THINK IT THROUGH
Am I doing my part in regard to all that God asks of
me in keeping the Sabbath?
"God requires not only that we re-
frain from physical labor upon the Sab-
bath, but that the mind be disciplined
to dwell upon sacred themes. The fourth
commandment is virtually transgressed
by conversing upon worldly things or
by engaging in light and trifling con-
versation. Talking upon anything or
everything which may come into the
mind is speaking our own words. Every
deviation from right brings us into
bondage and condemnation."—"Testi-
monies," Vol. 2, p. 703.
75
Receiving the Double Blessing
LESSON 9
Part 7 <> SUMMARY QUESTIONS <> TO TEST YOUR STUDY POWER
1.
Sabbath reform is indicated in Isa.
and Isa.
, and Isa.
2.
There is no better way to begin the observance of the Sabbath at sunset
than
3.
The use of Friday as preparation day is necessary for keeping the Sabbath,
because
4.
If we follow Jesus in keeping the Sabbath, where will we go every Sabbath?
5.
A good rule is: Refrain from doing anything on the Sabbath which could
be cared for on
6.
What does the word "heritage" mean?
7.
(a)
In Isa. 58:13, 14 God asks us on the Sabbath to refrain from:
(b)
Then God promises•
; and
and
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Litam aatil paaL, „`tolea alp }o sane tpul aq4 uodn apla 04 pato. asnea mm I„ „'paol 044 in EasAu;
;142!lap notit ateus uatit„ •q
II/A0 ano 2upleads 'aanseald umo ano 2tupug •sAem UMO ano
2t.uop
(L) :aaue;paqul ao a4e;sa ue (9) !Aep aatalo autos (5) tasnoq s,pog o; (t) :Liteqqes aloym
aut. atuasqo ;sntu aM (E) :dmsaom Aputej 'Epp& (r) !c1:85 :9:95
L
'91:9 •esi (j) :saamsuv
76
LESSON 10
August
27
to September
2
A SIGN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH 10
"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the
law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith." Phil. 3:9.
Man may take either of two roads in
seeking righteousness: (1) righteousness by
faith in Christ as the Lord's true way of
obtaining it, or (2) righteousness by works
as the counterfeit way. These point up the
differences between true and false worship.
The two classes were exemplified at the
gate of Eden when the world's first two
young people came to worship the Lord.
Abel's offering signified righteousness by
faith in Christ. See Heb. 11:4. Cain's offer-
ing represented an attempt to make himself
righteous by his own works. He substituted
a way of his own devising for the way of
Christ.
It is important that everyone understand
that the keeping of the Sabbath day in the
right way is a sign of true righteousness by
faith operating in the life.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Summary of Gospel
Rom. 1:16, 17
2.
Fruitage of Faith
James 2:17, 18
3.
Self-righteousness Exposed
Rom. 10:3
4.
Christ's Rest
Matt. 11:28
5.
True Sabbath Keeping
Isa. 58:13
6.
Test of Obedience
Ex. 16:4
77
A Sign of Righteousness by Faith
LESSON 10
Part 1
SUMMARY OF
GOSPEL
Rom. 1:16, 17
THINK IT THROUGH
111 Sunday
August 27
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: ... for
therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith
to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation because it
is "God's way of righting wrong, a way that starts from faith
and ends in faith." Rom. 1:17, NEB. The gospel of Christ is
summed up in righteousness by faith in Him.
Some have declared that keeping the seventh day is related
to righteousness by works. Such is not the case, even as obe-
dience to the other nine commandments by the born-again
believer is not.
In true Sabbath keeping the faithful believer does not keep
the Sabbath to make himself righteous. He keeps the seventh
day because he has received the righteousness of the Lord of
the Sabbath. The righteousness of Christ leads to full obedience
to God's commandments. See Rom. 8:3, 4.
In what words does Paul set forth Christ as both Re-
deemer and Creator? Col. 1:14-16.
Of what is the Sabbath declared to be a sign? Ex.
31:16, 17; Ezek. 20:12.
The Sabbath, as the appointed sign of loyalty to Christ as
our Creator, signifies that He alone can re-create a penitent
sinner into a righteous person. Thus it signifies that man cannot
save himself by his own works. He must depend wholly on
Christ to save and sanctify him. Thus true Sabbath keeping
stands as a Christ-appointed sign of the all-essential experience
of righteousness by faith.
Is my Sabbath keeping merely a formal, legal trans-
action, or the natural fruitage of my justification and
sanctification by the righteousness of Christ?
"We are not merely to observe the
Sabbath as a legal matter. We are to
understand its spiritual bearing upon
all the transactions of life. All who re-
gard the Sabbath as a sign between
them and God, showing that He is the
God who sanctifies them, will repre-
sent the principles of His government.
They will bring into daily practice the
laws of His kingdom. Daily it will be
their prayer that the sanctification of
the Sabbath may rest upon them. Ev-
ery day they will have the companion-
ship of Christ and will exemplify the
perfection of His ch'Eir
-
acter."—"Testi-
mofire
-
s7"
-
Vb17
-
67pp:
---
351
-
,
-
354.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages," pages 281-289.
78
A Sign of Righteousness by Faith
LESSON 10
❑
Monday
August
28
Part 2
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
FRUITAGE OF FAITH alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have
works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will
James 2:17, 18 shew thee my faith by my works."
God has appointed various ways whereby we may show
our faith in Christ. True faith always manifests itself in ap-
propriate works. So the true Christian does not keep the Sab-
bath to make himself righteous.
An apple tree does not become an apple tree by bearing
apples. First, it had to be an apple tree in order to bear
such fruit. Then the apples came as a natural fruitage of the
tree.
What really counts for a true Christian experience,
according to Gal. 5:6?
How will love for God manifest itself? 1 John 5:3;
1 Cor. 7:19.
A Christian who is keeping Sunday may find the real truth
for himself by accepting the Biblical answers to certain ques-
tions.
Do I believe that Jesus is my Creator and only Saviour?
Since I believe what the Bible says about Him, my answer
is in the affirmative. In fact, such an answer is essential to my
salvation.
"Every soul in our world is the Lord's property, by creation
and by redemption. Each individual soul is on trial for his
life. Has he given to God that which belongs to Him? Has
he surrendered to God all that is His as His purchased pos-
session? All who cherish the Lord as their portion in this life
will be under His control, and will receive the sign, the mark
of God, which shows them to be God's special possession.
Christ's righteousness will go before them, and the glory of
the Lord will be their rereward [rear guard]. The Lord pro-
tects every human being who bears His sign."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 7, p. 969.
THINK IT THROUGH
Do I show my faith in the various and appropriate
ways that the Lord has appointed?
"The Sabbath is a golden clasp that
unites God and His people. But the
Sabbath command has been broken.
God's holy day has been desecrated.
The Sabbath has been torn from its
place by the man of
sin,
and a common
working day has been exalted in its
stead. A breach has been made in the
law, and this breach is to be repaired.
The true Sabbath is to be exalted to its
rightful position as God's rest day."
—"Testimonies," Vol. 6, pp. 351, 352.
79
A Sign of Righteousness by Faith
LESSON 10
Part 3
SELF-
RIGHTEOUSNESS
EXPOSED
Rom. 10:3
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Tuesday
August 29
"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and
going about to establish their own righteousness, have
not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."
What indicates how the Pharisees followed the wrong prin-
ciple in attempting to make themselves righteous by their
works? Luke 18:11, 12; Matt. 6:1-5.
"By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in
his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20.
No person can make himself righteous by means of his own
good works.
When the Pharisees kept the Sabbath in order to make
themselves righteous, their Sabbath keeping became a part of
a false righteousness by works. It was not a sign of righteous-
ness by faith.
True Sabbath keeping is a continual acknowledgment of a
person's dependence and reliance upon our Creator for the gift
of life day by day, and upon our Redeemer for the gift of
salvation. The Sabbath can be kept holy only as one has re-
ceived righteousness by faith and continues in this experience;
for "the just shall live by faith."
Why does the substitution of ecclesiastical tradition in
place of the Lord's commandments constitute righteous-
ness by works? Mark 7:1-13.
The final issue upon which men must decide for or against
Christ will be the worship of the Creator versus the worship
of the beast and hini
nage—the reception of the seal of God
versus the acceptance of the mark of the beast. Rev. 14:6-12;
7:1-3. The basic issue is righteousness by faith versus righ-
teousness by works. In keeping with this thought, we have been
told that righteousness by faith is the third angel's message in
verity.
Does the Sabbath truly stand in my life as a sign of
righteousness by faith?
"As the Sabbath was the sign that
distinguished Israel when they came
out of Egypt to enter the earthly Ca-
naan, so it is the sign that now distin-
guishes God's people as they come out
from the world to enter the heavenly
rest. The Sabbath is a sign of the rela-
tionship existing between God and His
people, a sign that they honor His law."
—"Testimonies," Vol. 6, pp. 349, 350.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages," pp. 302-310.
80
A Sign of Righteousness by Faith
LESSON 10
Part 4
CHRIST'S REST
Matt. 11:28
❑
Wednesday
August 30
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest."
This promise never fails when we comply with the condi-
tion. Everyone who comes to Christ in true penitence enters
into His rest. He alone can bring us rest from the guilt and
dominion of sin.
How does the Lord show that rest to the soul is the
fruitage of loving obedience to Him? Jer. 6:16; Isa.
32:17.
What is the token of Christ's rest for the believer?
Ex. 20:8-10.
The Lord of this commandment is Christ the Creator. Ex.
20:11.
The word "sabbath" is a transliteration of the Hebrew
word
shabbath,
which means a cessation, rest, or sabbath. The
expression "the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord" really
signifies for the Christian that the seventh day is the sacred
rest day of Christ the Lord.
The Sabbath, then, is primarily a day of spiritual rest in
Christ. It is our Saviour's loving provision for the believer to
enter more fully into His rest. This is true Sabbath keeping.
The fourth chapter of Hebrews mentions that God "spake
in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God
did rest the seventh day from all his works." Heb. 4:4. Then
from this comes the conclusion that "he that is entered into
his [God's] rest, he also bath ceased from his own works, as
God did from his." Heb. 4:10.
THINK IT THROUGH
Am I making the Sabbath merely my own rest, and
not entering into Christ's rest?
"And if the Sabbath was thus appro-
priate, thus necessary, in Eden, what
shall we say of it since the fall? With
sin came man's estrangement from
God, and his proneness to forget his
Maker, and wander away from him.
How much more needful the Sabbath,
then, that he might not entirely break
away from the moorings which held
him to the heavenly world. The flood
of sin and crime has rolled broader
and deeper with each succeeding year;
and the further we come from Paradise,
the weaker and more prone to sin do
we find the race, and hence more in
need of God's great memorial."—James
White, "Signs of the Times," Nov. 15,
1877.
81
A Sign of Righteousness by Faith
LESSON 10
❑
Thursday
August 31
Part 5
"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from
TRUE SABBATH doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath
KEEPING a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt
honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine
Ise. 58:13 own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words."
God declares that we are not to speak our own words upon
His holy day. Conversation that is proper concerning secular
matters on the other days is to be avoided on the Sabbath.
The conversation of the true Sabbath keeper will be centered
upon sacred themes during the Sabbath hours.
Without Christ's righteousness within, no person can refrain
from speaking his own words on the seventh day regardless
of his resolutions. He will talk upon secular matters that come
into his mind. He is unable to bring the thoughts and intents
of his heart into harmony with the sacredness of the Sabbath.
Why is an unconverted person unable to keep Christ's
Sabbath? Rom. 8:7.
What must a person have before he can receive Christ's
rest? Phil. 2:5.
THINK IT THROUGH
No one can keep Christ's Sabbath unless he first has Him
living within to control his mind and affections. This experience
can make true Sabbath keeping a manifestation of righteous-
ness by faith.
There is an important difference between being a nominal
Saturday keeper and a real Sabbath keeper. An unconverted
person can lay aside his ordinary work and attend church
regularly on Saturday. But to be a real Sabbath keeper, one
must experience progressive sanctification as aresult of Christ's
living inliiin:ev
-
e
.
ry
-
day.
The mere acceptance of the Biblical evidences showing that
the seventh day is the only right day to keep can make a per-
son a Saturday keeper. But nothing except the sonyerting
power of_christ_can make us Christian Sabbath keepers.
Am I merely a Saturday keeper, or a true Sabbath
keeper?
"All who love God should do what much to exalt the Sabbath in their fam-
they can to make the Sabbath
a
delight,
ilies and make it the most interesting
holy and honorable. They cannot do this day of the week."—"Testimonies," Vol.
by seeking their own pleasure in sinful,
2, pp. 584, 585.
forbidden amusements. Yet they can do
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
"Testimonies," Vol. 6, pp. 349-353.
82
Part 6
TEST OF
OBEDIENCE
Ex. 16:4
❑
Friday
September I
"Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain
bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out
and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove
them, whether they will walk in my law, or no."
God brought a test upon the Israelites, whereby each one
by his own choice demonstrated whether or not he would obey
the law of God. The context shows that the test was how he
would regard God's holy seventh day as the Sabbath. Ex.
16:4-28.
In this closing age God is calling His people to come out
of the false religious sisterhood led by Babylon the Great and
to unite with the remnant of His true church. Rev. 18:4;
12:17. God's test for all today is how each one, by his own
choice, will regard His commandments. The keeping of Christ's
Sabbath is to be the sign of loyal obedience to Him, the Lord
of the Sabbath.
A Sign of Righteousness by Faith
LESSON 10
On what twofold basis is every person obligated to
render supreme obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ? Acts
14:15; Ise. 43:11.
In these lessons we have learned from the Bible that Christ's
seventh-day Sabbath has a twofold significance: first, as a
sign of loyal allegiance to Him as Creator of all (Ex. 20:8-11)
and, therefore, the only true God (Ezek. 20:20) ; and, second,
as only Sanctifier, or Saviour (Ezek. 20:12). This makes the
Sabbath a precious sign of His authority by requiring of us
supreme obedience to Him above all others.
The Sabbath stands for supreme obedience to the Lord Jesus
Christ. The keeping of the Sabbath on our part signifies sub-
mission to His supreme authority. Its proper observance means
that we accept His control over our lives. True Sabbath keep-
ing is inseparably connected with living for Christ.
What does a presumptuous refusal, or neglect, to
keep the Sabbath mean concerning one's attitude toward
Christ? Ezek. 20:13.
THINK IT THROUGH
Does my Sabbath keeping mean the control of Christ
in the other areas of my life?
"To those who keep holy the Sabbath
day it is the sign of sanctification. True
sanctification is- harmony with God,
oneness with Him in character. It is
received
—
t r-c
K
—
Tr
—
igh
---
csbe
—
cife
-
r
—
ice to those
principles that are the transcript of His
chciracter. And the Sabbath is the sign
of obedience. He who from the heart
obeys the fourth commandment will
obey the whole law. He is sanctified
through
obedience."—"Testimonies,"
Vol. 6, p. 350.
83
A Sign of Righteousness by Faith
LESSON 10
Part 7 0 SUMMARY QUESTIONS
0
TO TEST YOUR STUDY POWER
1.
The heart of the gospel is Christ as the
and
2.
Christ has appointed His
Redeemer.
as a
that He is the Creator-
3.
True faith will always manifest itself in
4.
Sabbath keeping is primarily a
rest in
5.
No one can truly keep Christ's Sabbath unless he first has
living
within for the
of his mind and affections.
6.
Where is the text that indicates that the keeping of the Sabbath was a
testing point in Israel for obedience to God's law)
7.
True Sabbath keeping signifies our continual
to the supreme
authority of
8.
When a person truly understands the Sabbath, a refusal or a neglect to
keep it is
against Christ.
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84
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LESSON 11
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THE PREDICTED RESTORATION
11
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye
take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and
the day star arise in your hearts." 2 Peter 1:19.
LESSON
OUTLINE
The sure word of prophecy has indicated
that there would be a widespread departure
from the way of truth by professed Chris-
tians in postapostolic times. This makes
restoration a necessity.
Prophecy has pointed out also that a full
restoration of lost and neglected truths
would come in this closing age in which we
are living. These prophecies are designed to
give us an understanding of our times so
that we may know what God wants us to
do in such a time as this. This is of utmost
importance.
1.
The Falling Away
Acts 20:29, 30
2.
Need for Restoration
Dan. 8:12
3.
Time of Restoration
Dan. 8:14
4.
Message of Restoration
Rev. 14:12
5.
The Restoration Movement
Rev. 14:6, 7
6.
Sabbath Restorers
Isa. 58:12
85
The Predicted Restoration
LESSON 11
❑
Sunday
September 3
Part 1
"For I know this, that after my departing shall griev-
THE FALLING AWAY ous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking per-
Acts 20:29, 30 verse things, to draw away disciples after them."
THINK IT THROUGH
What departure from the truth would take place after
Paul's oversight of the churches should cease? Acts 20:29,
30.
How did Peter and John counsel Christ's followers to
remain true to the teachings of Jesus? 1 Peter 2:21;
1 John 2:6.
After the apostles passed away, certain church leaders be-
gan to mingle erroneous teachings with the pure religion of
Jesus. Rites, ceremonies, and customs which Jesus and His
apostles never taught crept into use. Soon men urged these
upon the believers as being of divine authority by tradition.
One of these innovations was the honoring of Sunday in
commemoration of the resurrection of Christ.
Some Christians began to meet at about sunrise on Sunday
for a brief religious service, after which they went about their
regular work. But as the second and third centuries passed,
Sunday began to take on more and more of the aspect of a
regular day of worship. The result was that Sunday keeping
gradually became widely established and preferred above the
seventh-day Sabbath of the Ten Commandments.
This general apostasy from the truth called for a divinely
inaugurated reformation. This began in earnest in the sixteenth
century under Martin Luther and other Reformers. What they
did in restoring certain lost truths was only a good begin-
ning. Bible prophecy indicates that this great work of reforma-
tion and restoration would continue in successive generations
until every error would be exposed and the full truth in Jesus
for His people would be restored. Rev. 14:6-11. This does not
mean that all professed Christians would fully accept the re-
stored truths, but a "remnant" would. Rev. 12:17; 14:12.
Do I follow the teachings of Jesus without subtrac-
tions or additions?
"The spirit of concession to paganism
opened the way for a still further dis-
regard of Heaven's authority. Satan,
working through unconsecrated leaders
of the church, tampered with the fourth
commandment also, and essayed to set
aside the ancient Sabbath, the day
which God had blessed and sanctified
.
, and in its stead to exalt the festi-
val observed by the heathen as 'the
venerable day of the sun.' "—"The
Great Controversy," page 52.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Great Controversy," Chapter 3.
86
The Predicted Restoration
LESSON 11
❑
Monday
September 4
Part 2
"And an host was given him against the daily sacri-
NEED FOR Lice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the
RESTORATION truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered."
Dan. 8:12
This refers to the same power that is set forth in Dan. 7
under the symbol of the little horn—the papacy. Paul spoke
of this power, too, as the one who would exalt himself above
God, "so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing
himself that he is God." See 2 Thess. 2:3, 4.
THINK IT THROUGH
What does Dan. 8:12 declare this power would do
with the truth?
"The truth" in this case means the pure gospel preached by
the Lord Jesus and His apostles. They designated their teach-
ings as "the truth" (John 8:45, 46, 31, 32; Gal. 3:1; 2:14).
The Sabbath of Christ our Lord, as the sign that He is the
Creator-Sanctifier, is an essential part of the gospel truth cast
down to the ground by the little horn.
Dan. 7:25 (RSV) declares that this power would attempt
to "change the times and the law." In fulfillment of this
prophecy, this power attempted to change the fourth com-
mandment. It gradually set aside the keeping of the seventh-
day Sabbath as the Lord's day (Matt. 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke
6:5) and set up the keeping of Sunday in its place.
Why is the truth of God that is cast down to the ground
sure to rise again? Ps. 100:5; 111:7, 8.
God's truth was destined to be restored from being buried
under the false teaching of man. This same prophecy of Daniel
8 pointed out the time when God would inaugurate a reforma-
tory movement to restore His downtrodden truth.
"In every age there were witnesses for God—men who
cherished faith in Christ as the only mediator between God
and man, who held the Bible as the only rule of life, and who
hallowed the true Sabbath. How much the world owes to
these men, posterity will never know."—The
Great Contro-
versy,
page 61.
Do I appreciate this line of witnesses, many of whom
suffered death to preserve gospel truth for generations
to come?
"As foretold by prophecy, the papal churches that were under the rule of
power cast down the truth to the the papacy were early compelled to
ground. The law of God was trampled honor the Sunday as a holy day."—
in the dust, while the traditions and
"Ibid.," p. 65.
customs of men were exalted. The
87
The Predicted Restoration
LESSON 11
❑
Tuesday
September 5
Part 3
"And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three
TIME OF hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."
RESTORATION
Dan. 8:14
1).
THINK IT THROUGH
This is God's answer to the question in the preceding verse.
"How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice,
and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary
and the host to be trodden under foot ?" Dan. 8:13.
How long shall the truth be cast down to the ground? The
answer in Dan. 8:14 implied that new light would appear—
particularly concerning God's sanctuary—at the end of the
2,300-day period. These symbolic days represent 2,300 literal
years. See Ezek. 4:6.
What shows that the seventy weeks, or the first 490
days of the 2,300, were allotted to the Jewish nation?
Dan. 9:24.
What, according to Gabriel, is the beginning point
for the 2,300 days? Dan. 9:25.
This decree for the restoration of Jerusalem to the Jews
is recorded in Ezra 6:14 and 7:11-28. It was issued in the
seventh year of Artaxerxes I, king of Persia (Ezra 7:6-9),
which was 457
B.C.
This is the beginning date for the seventy weeks (or 490
years), the first part of the 2,300 day-years. The 490 years,
beginning in 457 s.c., extend to
AD.
34, the end of the seventy
prophetic weeks. The remaining 1,810 day-years of the 2,300
extend from
AD.
34 to 1844, the terminal date of the period
of 2,300 prophetic day-years. See
The Great Controversy,
page
328.
What should be my attitude toward the truth once
cast down to the ground but now breaking forth upon
all mankind?
"Then I was shown that the com-
mandments of God and the testimony
of Jesus Christ relating to the shut door
could not be separated, and that the
time for the commandments of God to
shine out with all their importance, and
for God's people to be tried on the
Sabbath truth, was when the door was
opened in the most holy place in the
heavenly sanctuary, where the ark is,
in which are contained the ten com-
mandments. This door was not opened
until the mediation of Jesus was fin-
ished in the holy place of the sanctuary
in 1844. Then Jesus rose up and shut
the door of the holy place, and opened
the door into the most holy, and passed
within the second veil, where He now
stands by the ark, and where the faith
of Israel now reaches."—"Early Writ-
ings," page 42.
FOR FURTHER
STUDY: "The Great Controversy," pages 324-328.
88
f': he Predicted Restoration
LESSON 11
[1] Wednesday
September 6
Part 4
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that
MESSAGE OF keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
RESTORATION
Rev. 14:12
This is the concluding statement of God's last-day message
which restores lost and neglected truths. Three angels are repre-
sented as heralding the three parts of this final gospel message
for all the world as recorded in Rev. 14:6-12.
The preaching of the gospel to all people has been com-
mitted to Christ's followers. Mark 16:15. Hence these three
angels prefigure the raising up of a special people, in this clos-
ing period of history, who will proclaim the everlasting gospel,
accompanied by certain special truths, to all the world.
THINK IT THROUGH
What are the two chief points identifying the remnant
people of God in this closing age? Rev. 14:12.
God's true people keep the commandments of God and the
faith of Jesus. This shows that they are a people who keep the
seventh-day Sabbath, for the fourth precept of Christ's Ten
Commandments requires it. Ex. 20:8-11. Thus Rev. 14:12 is
a forecast of the restoration of the observance of the true
Sabbath under this final proclamation of Christ's everlasting
gospel.
What essential of true worship is called for in the
very first part of this last heaven-sent message? Rev.
14:6, 7.
The Bible shows that the worship of Christ as our Creator
is inseparably connected with
-
the
-
keeping of the seventh-day
Sabbath. Ex. 20:8-11; 31:16, 17. He has ordained the keeping
of His seventh-day Sabbath as a distinguishing sign that we
recognize Him as our Creator. Hence this last-day call to "wor-
ship him that made heaven, and earth" (Rev. 14:7) is another
evidence that His true Sabbath, the memorial of the creation
of earth (Gen. 2:2, 3; Ex. 20:11), will be restored among His
followers in the time of the end.
Is my life such that the Lord includes me among those
who keep the commandments of God and the faith of
Jesus?
"When God sends to
men
warnings person endowed with reasoning powers
;o important that they are represented
to heed the message."—"The Great Con-
3s
proclaimed by holy angels flying in
troversy," page 594.
the midst of heaven, He requires every
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "SDA Bible Commentary," Vol. 7, pp. 827-832.
89
The Predicted Restoration
LESSON 11
❑
Thursday
September
7
Part 5
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven,
THE RESTORATION having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that
MOVEMENT dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God,
and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is
come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth,
Rev. 14:6, 7 and the sea, and the fountains of waters."
These words, "for the hour of his judgment is come," pin-
point the time when God's Sabbath-restoring movement would
commence. Related Biblical evidences establish that the hour
of God's judgment in Rev. 14:7 arrived in the year 1844, when
the prophetic period of 2,300 days in Dan. 8:14 ended.
In 1844 a small company of Christians, some at Washing-
ton, New Hampshire, and others elsewhere, turned from keep-
ing Sunday and began to observe the seventh-day Sabbath
Soon Christians in other places accepted the Sabbath and the
other special truths of the threefold message. In 1860 these
Sabbath keepers chose the denominational name, "Seventh-day
Adventist."
From this small beginning in 1844, this divinely appointed
movement for restoring the true Sabbath and other lost truths
has spread into all the world. There are now more than twc
million people in this movement which began in answer tc
prophecy. It is a part of God's predetermined plan to enlighten
the whole world with His last message of truth.
Behold, then, the fulfillment of Rev. 14:6-12 in the rise
teachings, and worldwide extension of the movement for Sab-
bath reform as carried forward by the Seventh-day Advent-
ists. This movement is here in response to the sure word of
prophecy. It represents what the Lord has planned to be done
at this time.
How has the Lord cautioned men against rejecting the
work He is doing before their very eyes? Acts 13:40, 41
THINK IT THROUGH
Do I appreciate the prophetic implications of being
Sabbath keeper in this great advent movement?
"In the time of the end every divine
institution is to be restored. The breach
made in the law at the time the Sab-
bath was changed by man, is to be re-
paired. God's remnant people, standing
before the world as reformers, are to
show that The jaw of God is the foun-
90
dation of all enduring reform and tha-
the Sabbath of the fourth command
ment is to stand as a memorial of crea
Lion, a constant reminder of the power
of God."—"Prophets and Kings," page
.678.
The Predicted Restoration
LESSON 11
Part 6
SABBATH
RESTORERS
Isa. 58:12
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Friday
September 8
"And they that shall be of thee shall build the old
waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of
many generations; and thou shalt be called, The re-
pairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."
"This prophecy also applies in our time. The breach was
made in the law of God when the Sabbath was changed by the
Roman power. But the time has come for that divine institu-
tion to be restored. The breach is to be repaired and the
foundation of many generations to be raised
up."—The Great
Controversy,
page 453.
What shows that the prophecy of Isa. 58:12, 13, in-
cludes the restoration of the true Sabbath?
The phrase, "the restorer of paths to dwell in," is rendered,
"restorer of paths leading home," in Rotherham's translation
of Isa. 58:12. The path of obedience to Christ's command-
ments does lead men closer to God and to their everlasting
home.
Where does the path of obedience to God's com-
mandments lead the faithful? Rev. 22:14; Isa. 26:2.
"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath." Isa. 58:13.
God has appointed a special vindication and revelation of His
downtrodden Sabbath in these closing days. The world at
large has had its foot on Christ's Sabbath by using it as an
ordinary working day instead of honoring it as His holy rest
day. Now it must be removed.
Those whom God designates as His chosen restorers in
Isa. 58:12 are those who observe the Sabbath as He specifies
in Isa. 58:13. They keep the right day in the right way. In this
closing age, the Sabbath is to be presented by a people who
place righteousness by faith first in their way of life and in
their teachings to others.
Do I meet the conditions laid down in Isa. 58:13 for
being one of God's restorers?
"If ever a memorial of the great God
and a golden link to bind man to
heaven, was needed, it is needed now.
And the necessity of this institution will
even yet increase through the few re-
maining days of peril. Can we dispense
with it? Never. More and more sacredly
should we cherish it, while with ear-
nest hearts we breathe the prayer,
"'Let earth, 0 Lord, again be thine,
As ere with vengeance cursed;
And let the holy Sabbath shine
As glorious as at first.'"
—James White,
"Signs of the Times,"
Nov. 15, 1877.
91
Z6
Answers: (1) cast down; (2) 2,300; (3) 457 B.C., A.D. 1844; (4) observe the seventh-day Sab-
bath, Creator; (5) 1844, small company; (6) world, two million; (7) the sight, all.
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LESSON 12
September 10-16
TRUTH FOR TODAY
12
"Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these
things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth." 2 Peter
1:12.
The Bible contains both timeless mes-
sages and messages particularly applicable
at certain times. There are general teachings
which apply to every soul in every genera-
tion. They include such doctrines as faith,
repentance, conversion, love, obedience,
righteousness by faith, et cetera.
In addition to these, there are
special
truths applicable only to the particular
time for which God has appointed them.
Examples of these are: Noah's 120-year
warning of the coming of the Flood, Jonah's
forty-day warning to Nineveh, John the
Baptist's message of preparation to re-
ceive the Messiah at His first advent.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Prophetic Certification
John 1:21, 22
2.
The Truth of the Advent Near
Matt. 24:33
3.
The People of God Identified
Rev. 17:14
4.
The Needed Certainty
Luke 4:21
5.
God's Called-out Ones
Acts 15:14
6.
Remnant Identified
Rev. 12:17
93
Truth for Today
LESSON 12
❑
Sunday
September 10
Part 1
"And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And
PROPHETIC he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he an-
CERTIFICATION swered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that
we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest
John 1:21, 22
thou of thyself?"
There were at that time various religious sects among the
Jews. The Bible mentions some of them: Pharisees, Sadducees,
Herodians, Zealots. John the Baptist had arisen as a new
preacher proclaiming a new and startling message.
Questions naturally arose concerning his teachings. What
divine authority did he have for his message? How could his
listeners be sure that his teachings presented the right way for
them to follow, in preference to the currently popular reli-
gious ways?
What evidence did John cite to certify that his teach-
ings were God's present truth for the people of his day?
John 1:23.
John cited Isa. 40:3 as the prophecy which his work and
teachings were fulfilling. If the message of Isa. 40:3 had not
been proclaimed at that time, the Bible would not be a true
book. The Lord had raised up John the Baptist at the right
time, to preach the right message, to show the right way, to
men at that time. His work and teachings were a remarkable
fulfillment of prophecy.
Strong evidence that God has ordained certain religious
teaching is shown when that message is indicated in prophecy
and it is proclaimed according to the prophetic timetable.
The Sabbath reform advocated by Seventh-day Adventists
may be compared to the work of John the Baptist. "In this
age, just prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds
of heaven, such a work as that of John is to be done."—
Testimonies,
Vol. 8, p. 332.
THINK IT THROUGH
How can I be sure which way the Lord wants me to
go when there are so many conflicting messages pro-
claimed by so many different religious denominations?
"As a prophet, John was 'to turn the way for Christ's first advent, he was a
hearts of the fathers to the children,
representative of those who are to pre-
and the disobedient to the wisdom of pare a people for our Lord's second
the just; to make ready a people pre-
coming."—"The Desire of Ages," page
pared for the Lord.' In preparing the
101.
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
"The Desire of Ages ," Chapter 10.
94
L
Monday
September 11
Part 2
"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things,
THE TRUTH OF know that it is near, even at the doors."
THE ADVENT NEAR
Matt. 24:33
The Bible shows that John the Baptist prepared the way
for the arrival of the Messiah at His first advent by proclaim-
ing the God-appointed message for that time. Matt. 3:1-3. Simi-
larly, the Scriptures have designated the Heaven-sent message
that is preparing the way for the second advent of this same
Lord.
How is Christ's second coming portrayed in Rev.
14:14?
THINK IT THROUGH
Rev. 14:6-14 plainly reveals that the preaching of the three
angels' messages to every people, as set forth in verses 6-12,
leads directly to the second advent described in verse 14. This
threefold message is the one that God wishes all people to
accept in this closing age preceding the second coming of Christ.
It is His present truth for this time.
Such is the prophetic certification from God for this modern
Sabbath-reform movement. Candid investigation reveals that
Seventh-day Adventists are the only people publishing these
special truths to all the world.
The prophecy of Rev. 14:6-12 is being fulfilled in the rise,
work, and teachings of Seventh-day Adventists, even as Isa.
40:3 was fulfilled in the teachings of John the Baptist. The
Adventists are proclaiming the divinely appointed and fore-
told message to prepare the way for Christ's second advent,
The Sabbath is today "present truth" and has been since
1844. The obligation is clear now to keep the seventh day holy.
"I saw that the present test on the Sabbath could not come
until the mediation of Jesus in the holy place was finished and
He had passed within the second veil; therefore Christians
who fell asleep before the door was opened into the most
holy, when the midnight cry was finished, at the seventh
month, 1844, and who had not kept the true Sabbath, now
rest in hope; for they had not the light and the test on the
Sabbath which we now have since that door was opened. I
saw that Satan was tempting some of God's people on this
point. Because so many good Christians have fallen asleep
in the triumphs of faith and have not kept the true Sab-
bath, they were doubting about its being a test for us now."
—Early Writings,
pages 42, 43.
Can anything else be more vital to me than to heed
God's truth for this day?
"The Lord gives a special truth for
of mercy to the world. They cannot re-
the people in an emergency. Who dare
main silent, except at the peril of their
refuse to publish it? He commands His souls."—"The Great Controversy," page
servants to present the last invitation
609.
FOR
FURTHER
STUDY: "Early Writings," pages 258-261.
95
Truth for Today
LESSON 12
Truth for Today
LESSON 12
❑
Tuesday
September 12
Part 3
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lapb
THE PEOPLE OF shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King
GOD IDENTIFIED of kings: and they that are with him are called, and
Rev. 17:14
chosen, and faithful."
The worldwide Sabbath-reform movement fostered by Sev-
enth-day Adventists owes its existence to the Heaven-sent
threefold message of Rev. 14:6-12.
Seventh-day Adventists are not merely another church or
religious denomination. They represent God's last-day plan
for the restoration of the original gospel work of Jesus.
How does Rev. 15:2, 3 mark out the glorious destiny
of those who have won the victory over the beast, its
image, and its number?
THINK IT THROUGH
Can we be sure that the particular people described in Rev.
15:2, 3 passed through the period of the preaching of the last-
day threefold message of Rev. 14:6-12? Most assuredly, for
they had gotten the victory over the beast and his image
mentioned in the third message. Thus it is established by Rev.
15:2, 3 and 14:6-15 that the advent movement of the three-
fold message will go through to eternal victory and to heaven.
The sure word of prophecy has marked it through to the sea
of glass before the throne of God.
These scriptures show that the same movement by which
the threefold message is proclaimed to every nation will sweep
forward without a break to eternal victory at the coming of
the Lord.
This is the divinely appointed destiny of the advent
movement for a sure and everlasting triumph.
Isn't this a most impelling and decisive reason for
accepting this message and staying by it to the end?
"God is leading out a people and
of Bible truth, clear and connected. This
establishing them upon the one great
truth is of heavenly origin and has been
platform of faith, the commandments searched for as for hidden treasure."
of God and the testimony of Jesus. He —"Testimonies," Vol. 3, p. 447.
has given His people a straight chain
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Great Controversy," Chapter 26.
96
Truth for Today
LESSON 12
❑
Wednesday
September 13
Part 4
"And he began to say unto them, This day is this
THE NEEDED scripture fulfilled in your ears."
CERTAINTY
Luke 4:21
D.
THINK IT THROUGH
To what scripture did Jesus refer? Compare Luke
4:16-21 with Isa. 61:1, 2.
Some 700 years before Christ preached in the synagogue of
Nazareth, Isaiah had foretold what the Messiah would do and
say when He appeared. Christ opened the book of Isaiah to this
prophecy and read it to the assembled worshipers. Then He
said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." Christ
cited the fulfillment of Isa. 61:1, 2 in His work and teachings
as a sure evidence of the right way for His day.
How did Apollos show that Jesus is the true Messiah?
Acts 18:28.
Note how truth was substantiated in the first sermon by
the apostles after Jesus ascended. Peter cited the particular
prophecy in Joel which foretold the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. "This is that which' was spoken
by the prophet Joel." See Acts 2:14-21; Joel 2:28-32. He cited
also the particular prophecies which foretold the resurrection
of Christ. Acts 2:24-36.
John the Baptist preached present truth in announcing his
own teachings as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isa. 40:3.
During Christ's ministry present truth involved the fulfill-
ment of such prophecies as Isa. 61:1, 2.
So the question for our day is this: In what teachings and
movement is God's appointed message for our day, as foretold
in Rev. 14:6-12, being fulfilled? In answering this, we see
that Heaven's seal of certainty rests upon the message and
work of Seventh-day Adventists.
Since this threefold message is the one which God has
appointed to be preached, believed, and obeyed at this
time, what else should I do but stand by it to the end?
"We do not go deep enough in our reason of the hope that is in him. . . .
search for truth. Every soul who be- They must know that they do know
lieves present truth will be brought what is truth."—"Testimonies to Min-
where he will be required to give a
isters," page 119.
97
❑
Thursday
September 14
Part 5
"Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit
GOD'S CALLED-OUT the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name."
ONES
Acts 15:14
Since the time
of the fall of Adam and Eve, God's purpose
has been manifested in calling out from the world a people
fully committed to obey Him. The great masses have walked
in the ways of their own devising. But in every generation God
has had a remnant people who have remained true to His
commandments and kept His Sabbath. This is how the knowl-
edge of God and His truth have been preserved through the
centuries.
How many faithful souls did God have in His remnant
church when the Flood came in the time of Noah? 1 Peter
3:20. And how many in the time of Elijah? Rom. 11:3,
4; 1 Kings 19:18.
Paul declared that in his day God had a remnant according
to the election of grace. Rom. 11:5. The vast majority of the
professed people of God had departed from the truth by fol-
lowing their traditions and doctrines instead of the word of
God. But there were many faithful ones in the Jewish church
who gladly accepted God's truth for that time. The Lord
gathered them out in many lands and used them to form His
true church at the beginning of the Christian age.
Likewise the Bible prophecies foretell what will happen in
the closing age. All the world, except a small remnant, will
obey the apostate power by keeping the false sabbath. Rev.
13:8, 12-17. This false system is spoken of as Babylon the
Great. Rev. 14:8; 17:5; 18:1-4. Many of God's people are in
the various religious bodies which compose the great family
of spiritual Babylon today.
That Babylonian coalition has set aside God's seventh-day
Sabbath and instituted the Sunday sabbath in its place. Those
who respond to the call of God to come out of Babylon will
help to restore the Sabbath to its rightful place in the gospel
message.
The Lord is searching in every nation, kindred, tongue,
and people for those who will rightly represent Him. "For the
eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is
perfect [or truly sincere] toward him." 2 Chron. 16:9.
THINK IT THROUGH
Will God find
in me the object of His quest?
"The story of ... the carrying out of
theme of God's messengers to His
the plan of the ages by a goodly rem-
church throughout the centuries that
nant to whom are to be fulfilled all the
have passed."—"Prophets and Kings,"
covenant promises—this has been the
page 22.
98
Truth for Today
LESSON 12
Truth for Today
LESSON 12
❑
Friday
September 15
Part 6 . "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and
REMNANT went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which
IDENTIFIED keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony
Rev. 12:17
of Jesus Christ."
By the symbol of a pure woman, Revelation 12 has foretold
the story of the true church during the centuries from the
ascension of Christ to the end of the 1260 years of papal su-
premacy in 1798. And Rev. 12:17 foretold the remnant, the
last segment of Christ's church in the closing age. These are
identified as those "which keep the commandments of God."
One of God's commandments pertains to the keeping of the
seventh day. Ex. 20:8-11. Since this remnant of the true
church would keep the commandments of God, they would
have to be a Christian people observing the seventh-day Sab-
bath.
The people of this same remnant are designated in Rev.
14:12 as follows: "Here are they that keep the commandments
of God, and the faith of Jesus." The context shows that they
are the people of the threefold-message movement of Rev.
14:6-12. They go into all the world to proclaim the everlast-
ing gospel, including certain special truths. They began to
appear in 1844, the year when the judgment-hour message was
due to be given.
Rev. 12:17 declares that this remnant "have the testimony
of Jesus." Rev. 19:10 says, "The testimony of Jesus is the
spirit of prophecy." Theirs is a six-point pattern:
1. They keep the commandments of God and the faith of
Jesus. 2. They keep the seventh-day Sabbath. 3. They
preach the message of Rev. 14:6-12. 4. They began to ap-
pear in 1844, when the judgment-hour message was due. 5.
They became a worldwide movement. 6. They have the
spirit of prophecy.
Where do you find a Christian people who conform to this
six-point pattern? There is only one group that fulfills these
prophetic specifications. Since you desire to belong to Christ's
true church, doesn't this confirm the group with whom you
should be identified?
THINK IT THROUGH
Will I , by the grace of God, be one of Christ's remnant
people to the end?
"Let all be careful not to make an
mandments of God and have faith in
outcry against the only people who are Jesus, who are exalting the standard of
fulfilling the description given of the
righteousness in these last days."—
remnant people who keep the corn-
"Testimonies to Ministers," page 58.
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
"Early Writings," pages 277-289.
99
Truth for Today
LESSON 12
Part 7 G SUMMARY QUESTIONS G
TO TEST YOUR STUDY POWER
1.
(a)
John the Baptist's teachings were a fulfillment of the prophecy of
(b)
This was a
proof that his message was the
way for every person at that
2.
(a)
The Sabbath-reform message of the Adventist people is fulfilling
Rev. 14:
(b)
This is the strongest
that their teachings are
the
way for every
to follow at this
3.
What sure evidence is there that this Sabbath-reform movement is going
through to eternal victory in heaven
..
?
4.
What evidence did Jesus cite in His sermon at Nazareth as the basis for
the acceptance of His message?
5.
The Bible identifies Christ's remnant in this closing age as
(a)
They keep the
and
the
according to
(b)
They keep the
day
Sabbath according to God's commandment in
(c)
They teach the special truths mentioned in Rev.
6.
Who are the only people who fit into this pattern?
7.
Am I determined by the grace of God to be one of this remnant to the
end)
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100
Defendent declares
THE FINAL TEST
13
LESSON 13
September 17-23
"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be
filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy,
let him be holy still." Rev. 22:11.
•
These words constitute a fateful decree
of the heavenly Intercessor, which will
mark the close of human probation. Shortly
before this there will be a final test of de-
cision for or against Christ.
The book of Revelation indicates this
final test will be the true seventh-day Sab-
bath of the Lord Jesus Christ versus the
spurious Sunday-sabbath of the papal
power. A world-dominating church-state
coalition will enforce this spurious sabbath
upon all by boycott and the death penalty.
Rev. 13:15-17. The acceptance of God's
message for this time will prepare the obe-
dient for this final test.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Seal of God
Rev. 7:2, 3
2.
Mark of Rejection
Rev. 14:9, 10
3.
Issue of Destiny
Jer. 21:8
4.
The Master Deception
Rev. 13:8
5.
The Supercrisis
Rev. 13:15
6.
Moment for Decision
1 Kings 18:21
101
The Final Test
LESSON 13
❑
Sunday
September 17
Part 1
"And I saw another angel ascending from the east,
SEAL OF GOD having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to
hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth,
neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the
Rev. 7:2, 3 servants of our God in their foreheads."
In the final phase of the gospel work, God warns every soul
against receiving the mark of the beast. Rev. 14:9-12. The
acceptance of God's message will result in placing the seal of
God upon God's servants as stated in Rev. 7:2, 3.
The final test involves the reception of the seal of God
versus the reception of the mark of the beast. Hence it is of the
utmost importance to find out from the Bible what is meant
by the seal of God and the mark of the beast.
How does 1 Kings 21:8 show that the seal of a ruler
is the sign of his authority?
What has Christ, as the Creator, appointed as a sign?
Ex. 31:16, 17; Ezek. 20:12, 20.
THINK IT THROUGH
The Sabbath commandment is the only precept in the Deca-
logue which identifies the Lord as the Creator of all and, there-
fore, the rightful Ruler of all. This imparts validity to the
other nine precepts. This makes the Sabbath commandment
the seal of God's law and the sign of the rightful supremacy
of Christ.
There are four places in the Bible where the Sabbath is
spoken of as a sign that He is the Lord. This is fourfold evi-
dence that the true Sabbath stands as the sign or seal of God.
When you yield yourself to Christ in full understanding and
obedience and keep the Sabbath holy, then it becomes a sign,
or seal, in your life, indicating that the true God is your God
and that you are His loyal child. Ezek. 20:20.
"God's claim to reverence and worsliIp, above the gods of
the heathen, is based iiiicTritliefact that He is the Creator, and
that to Him all other beings owe their
existence."—Patriarchs
and Prophets,
page 336.
Is the character of Christ being
j_v_pced in me more
completely every day?
"The fourth commandment alone of commandment take upon themselves
all the ten contains the seal of the great
His name, and all the blessings it in-
Lawgiver, the Creator of the heavens
volves are theirs."—"Testimonies," Vol.
and the earth. Those who obey this
6, p. 350.
FOR
FURTHER STUDY:
"Testimonies," Vol. 6, pp. 349-352.
102
The Final Test
LESSON 13
❑
Monday
September
/8
Part 2
"And the third angel followed them, saying with a
MARK OF loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image,
REJECTION
and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the
same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which
is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indigna-
tion; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone
in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of
Rev. 14:9, 10 the Lamb."
A comparison of this scripture with Rev. 7:1-3 shows that
the mark of the beast is the opposite of the seal of God. It
has been shown in Part 1 of this lesson that the seal of God is
connected with the keeping of Christ's seventh-day Sabbath.
The mark of the beast, as the opposite of the seal of God, is
connected with the keeping of the Sunday sabbath as a man-
made substitute for the true Sabbath.
What is the only way any person can escape receiv-
ing the mark of the beast? Rev. 14:12.
When the final test comes, all will obey the apostate power
and receive the mark of the beast except the remnant who
keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Be-
cause they keep the commandments of God, they observe the
seventh-day Sabbath according to His law.
Those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath as the Lord com-
mands are distinguished as His true followers. But those who
disobey Him and keep the first-day sabbath of the papacy in
opposition to the truth are distinguished as followers of apos-
tasy. Thus a final test will come when all men will have to
make a choice between Christ's true Sabbath and the man-
made sabbath ; between whose authority they will accept—
God's or man's; between who they will obey—Christ or Satan.
"The Sabbath question is to be the issue in the great final
conflict in which all the world will act a
part."—Testimonies,
Vol. 6, p. 352.
What shows that those who keep the commandments
of God and the faith of Jesus will obtain the victory over
the mark of the beast? Rev. 15:2, 3.
THINK IT THROUGH
Will I, by the grace of God, keep the true Sabbath and
be victorious over the mark of the beast?
"Since those who keep God's com-
mandments are thus placed in contrast
with those that worship the beast and
his image and receive his mark, it fol-
lows that the keeping of God's law, on
the one hand, and its violation, on the
other, will make the distinction be-
tween the worshipers of God and the
worshipers of the beast."—"The Great
Controversy," pages 445, 446.
103
The Final Test
LESSON 13
❑
Tuesday
September 19
Part 3
"And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the
ISSUE OF DESTINY Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the
Jer. 21:8 way of death."
How, according to 1 John 2:3, 4, does every believer
show whether he is a real Christian or a make-believe
Christian?
According to Rom. 6:16, what shows which side I am
on in conflict between Christ and Satan?
"To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants
ye are." Rom. 6:16. Anyone who applies this Scriptural prin-
ciple to the Sabbath-versus-Sunday issue will see for himself
about this question.
what identifies the worshipers of the Creator and only true
God. He will see, also, what identifies the worshipers of the
beast and his image. Too, he will know what he ought to do
When a Christian faithfully keeps the seventh-day Sabbath
as the divinely appointed sign that Christ is his Creator and
Redeemer, to whom is he rendering service? He is obeying his
Lord Jesus Christ. This marks him as a worshiper of Christ,
his Lord, Creator, and Saviour. His servant he is, to whom
he obeys.
When a Christian knows the Sabbath truth, but still keeps
Sunday, whom is he obeying in this respect? Many Sunday
keepers honestly think that they are obeying Christ because
He arose from the dead on this day. But according to the
Bible, Jesus has never required anyone to keep the first day
of the week as sacred for any reason whatsoever.
When a Christian keeps Sunday after he has been enlight-
ened about it, he is obeying the apostate power, which has
attempted to make Sunday, instead of the Sabbath, God's holy
day of rest for man. His servant he is to whom he obeys. He
is honoring the papacy above the Lord Jesus Christ, "Lord
even of the Sabbath." Matt. 12:8. In such a case, the only
safe decision that a Christian can make is to obey Jesus by
keeping the holy day as He has commanded.
THINK IT THROUGH
Do I renew my decision every day to obey all of God's
commandments?
"While the worshipers of God will
be especially"diitingUished by their
regard for the fourth commandment,—
since this is the sign of His creative
power and the witness to His claim
upon man's reverence and homage,—
104
the worshipers of the beast will be dis-
tinguished by their efforts to tear down
the Creator's memorial, to exalt the
institution of Rome."—"The Great Con-
troversy," page 446.
The Final Test
LESSON 13
Part 4
THE MASTER
DECEPTION
Rev. 13:8
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Wednesday
September 20
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,
whose names are not written in the book of life of the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
This refers to one of Satan's overwhelming deceptions.
Countless millions of professed Christians are observing Sunday
as the Lord's day without knowing that it is an institution of
antichrist and without Biblical authority. They sincerely be-
lieve that in so doing they are obeying and worshiping Christ.
But in this they are actually rendering homage and obedience
to the system of counterfeit Christianity.
Why will God's true people not be deceived by Satan's
masterful deceptions? Matt. 24:24, 25.
How will Satan work to enlist, if possible, all men on
his side? Rev. 13:13, 14; 16:13, 14.
Christ, as our Creator, made the seventh-day Sabbath to be
a sign of allegiance and loyalty to His true system of worship.
In direct opposition to this, Satan introduced, in ancient times,
the worship of the sun upon the first day of the week as a
sign of adherence to his false system of worship. This is how
the first day of the week got its name "Sunday."
Satan knew that one of the most telling blows that he
could strike against the Son of God would be to turn all people
away from keeping His seventh-day Sabbath, because it is
the sign of the rightful sovereignty of Christ as our Creator
and Redeemer. Thus he has succeeded in establishing his "day
of the Sun" in the place of the day of the
Son.
See Matt. 12:8.
Millions have been misled to believe that by keeping Sunday
they acknowledge the supremacy of our blessed Saviour. But,
in reality, this practice denies His rightful supremacy, for by
substitution of the observance of Sunday for that of the sev-
enth-day Sabbath, the Roman Church has placed papal author-
ity above the word of Him who is the Lord of the Sabbath.
Am I so fortifying my mind with the truth of God's
Word that I will be able to stand fast amid these master-
ful deceptions?
"The substitution of the false for the
true is the last act in the drama. When
this substitution becomes universal, God
will reveal Himself. When the laws of
men are exalted above the laws of
God, when the powers of this earth try
to force men to keep the first day of
the week, know that the time has come
for God to work. He will arise in His
majesty, and will shake terribly the
earth. He will come out of His place to
punish the inhabitants of the world for
their iniquity."—Ellen G. White Com-
ments, "SDA Bible Commentary," Vol.
7, p. 980.
105
The Final Test
LESSON 13
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Thursday
September 21
"And he had power to give life unto the image of
the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak,
and cause that as many as would not worship the image
of the beast should be killed."
Satan attempted through the agency of pagan Rome to
destroy the Saviour as soon as He was born. Rev. 12:4, 5;
Matt. 2:16. He worked later through civil and religious powers
of the earth to destroy millions of Christians during the Dark
Ages.
In these closing days Satan will work through a church-
and-state collaboration to impose observance of the false Sun-
day sabbath upon all. Rev. 13:16, 17.
How has God pledged His word that He will deliver
His remnant? Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:32.
What will it take, on my part, to share in this deliver-
ance? Rev. 3:10; Luke 21:34, 35.
Everyone will be compelled to choose between the seal of
God and the mark of the beast. If a person will not volun-
tarily surrender his all to Christ, keep His true Sabbath, and
receive the seal of God, he will yield to compulsion by civil
law to honor the false sabbath and receive the mark of the
beast,
Will I be one of the overcomers whose name will be
retained in the book of life for a home in the better world
to come? Rev. 3:5.
Part 5
THE SUPERCRISIS
Rev. 13:15
"Fearful is the issue to which the
world is to be brought. The powers of
earth, uniting to war against the com-
mandments of God, will decree that
'all, both small and great, rich and
poor, free and bond' (Revelation 13:
16), shall conform to the customs of the
church by the observance of the false
sabbath. All who refuse compliance
will be visited with civil penalties, and
it will finally be declared that they are
deserving of death. On the other hand,
the law of God enjoining the Creator's
rest day demands obedience and threat-
ens wrath against all who transgress
its precepts.
"With the issue thus clearly brought
before him, whoever shall trample
upon God's law to obey a human enact-
ment receives the mark of the beast;
he accepts the sign of allegiance to the
power which he chooses to obey in-
stead of God."—"The Great Contro-
versy," page 604.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Great Controversy," pages 603-612.
106
The Final Test
LESSON 13
Part 6
MOMENT FOR
DECISION
1 Kings 18:21
❑
Friday
September 22
"And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How
long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God,
follow him."
God confronts men continually with moments of decision.
This is for our own eternal good if we make the right responses.
What moment of decision came to God's professed
people in the golden calf apostasy? Ex. 32:19-26.
In the final test preceding the close of probation, every soul
will have to decide between the worshi.gf Christ as our
Creator-Redeemer and the worship of the beast and his image;
between the observance of the true Sabbath of Christ and the
observance of the counterfeit sabbath of the papacy.
How did Christ show that no one can be neutral?
Matt. 12:30.
Observing Christ's seventh-day Sabbath is a sign of recog-
nition of His authority as sovereign Lord of all, the Creator
of all, and the only Saviour of man. Observance of the Sun-
day institution, after light has come, is a sign of recognition
of the alleged authority of the papacy to rule over all God's
people. Thus each of us must decide which of these two signs
of authority he will accept for himself. This is the basic issue
in this impending conflict of Sabbath versus Sunday.
The issue is, in brief, this: Whom shall I obey as supreme?
Shall I decide for Christ? Shall I obey Him in keeping His
Sabbath as a sign that I choose Him as my Lord-Creator-
Saviour? Or shall I obey the papal power in keeping Sunday?
THINK IT THROUGH
As I come to the end of these lessons, shall I pray,
"Lord, help me to have Christ in the Sabbath and the
Sabbath in Christ?"
"The Sabbath will be, the great test
that is in opposition to God, the keep-
of loyalty, for it is the point of truth
ing of the true Sabbath, in obedience to
especially controverted. When the final
God's law, is an evidence of loyalty to
test shall be brought to bear upon men,
the Creator. While one class, by accept-
then the line of distinction will be
ing the sign of submission to earthly
drawn between those who serve God powers, receive the mark of the beast,
and those who serve Him not. While the
the other, choosing the token of alle-
observance of the false sabbath in com-
giance to divine authority, receive the
pliance with the law of the state, con-
seal of God."—"The Great Controversy,"
trary to the fourth commandment, will
page 605.
be an avowal of allegiance to a power
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Great Controversy," pages 448-450.
107
The Final Test
LESSON 13
Part 7
0
* SUMMARY QUESTIONS 0
TO TEST YOUR STUDY POWER
1.
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2.
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to the
of God.
3.
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4.
Why is the deliberate keeping of Sunday instead of the seventh day a
mark of obedience to the Rome power above Christ)
5.
Who are the only ones who will not be deceived by Satan)
6.
Between what will each person be compelled to make a decision)
7.
Each one must choose between keeping the
day, as sign of
the
of
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day, as a sign of the
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108
LESSON 14
September 24-30
The purpose of this review is to ask these
personal questions: (1) What have we
learned or relearned about the Sabbath and
Sabbath observance? (2) How will this
knowledge be translated into a more vic-
torious daily experience?
For example, we have spoken of the Sab-
bath as a sign of divine creatorship and
redemption. Are we, as a consequence, con-
scious of renewal and victory in daily life?
Reference has been made to a "missing
text." Is that just a point for controversy,
or does it strengthen your faith in New Tes-
tament seventh-day Sabbath observance?
We know there is a true and there is a
false sabbath day. But do we ask what the
divine judgment might be between a really
sincere person who unknowingly observes
the wrong day, and the man who well
knows the true day of rest and yet observes
it legalistically and lives an inconsistent
life?
In other words, this review is intended
to stress the supreme importance of truly
living our religious beliefs motivated by
the love of Christ, of practicing what we
profess, of being what we claim to be.
Otherwise, we can know the truth of Christ
and yet be lost because we do not know
Him.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
The Sabbath and Redeeming
Love
Gen. 2:1; Job 38:7
2.
Eternal Love and Man's Obe-
dience
Deut. 33:2, 3
3.
Creation and Re-creation
Heb. 1:2; 2 Cor. 5:17, RSV
4.
The Divine Forethought
Eph. 1:4, 5
5.
Mark of the Maker
Ezek. 20:20
6.
Evidence of the Saviour's
Presence
Lev. 21:23
109
The Forgotten Blessing
LESSON 14
❑
Sunday
September 24
Part 1
"The heavens and the earth were finished, and all the
THE SABBATH AND host of them."
REDEEMING LOVE
"The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of
Gen. 2:1; Job 38:7 God shouted for joy."
Notice how these verses are used in
The Desire of Ages
in
the context of Christ's finished work of creation as a type of
His finished work of redemption while He rested in the tomb
on the Sabbath day:
"In the beginning the Father and the Son had rested upon
the Sabbath after Their work of creation. When 'the heavens
and the earth were finished, and all the host of them' (Gen.
2:1), the Creator and all heavenly beings rejoiced in contempla-
tion of the glorious scene. 'The morning stars sang together,
and all the sons of God shouted for joy.' Job 38:7. Now Jesus
rested from the work of redemption; and though there was
grief among those who loved Him on earth, yet there was joy
in heaven. Glorious to the eyes of heavenly beings was the
promise of the future. A restored creation, a redeemed race,
that having conquered sin could never fall,—this, the result to
flow from Christ's completed work, God and angels saw. With
this scene the day upon which Jesus rested is forever linked.
For 'His work is perfect;' and 'whatsoever God doeth, it shall
be forever.' Deut. 32:4; Eccl. 3:14. When there shall be a
`restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth
of all His holy prophets since the world began' (Acts 3:21),
the creation Sabbath, the day on which Jesus lay at rest in
Joseph's tomb, will still be a day of rest and rejoicing. Heaven
and earth will unite in praise, as 'from one Sabbath to another'
(Isa. 66:23) the nations of the saved shall bow in joyful
worship to God and the Lamb."—Pages 769, 770.
Make a list of some of the "things" that will someday
be restored. Acts 3:21.
THINK IT THROUGH
Should we expect the kind of world that knew not
Christ during His life on earth to know and observe now
the seventh-day Sabbath that He observed?
110
The Forgotten Blessing
LESSON 14
❑
Monday
September
25
Part 2
"And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up
ETERNAL LOVE AND from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran,
MAN'S OBEDIENCE and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right
hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people;
all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy
Deut. 33:2, 3
feet; every one shall receive of thy words."
What relation has always existed between God's love
and His laws?
Is divine love temporary or eternal? Jer. 31:3.
The controversies of the Pharisees with Christ show how
they magnified the first four commandments of the Decalogue
as of much greater importance than the other six because they
reveal the duty of man to His Maker. Consequently "they
greatly failed of practical godliness. Jesus had shown the people
their great deficiency, and had taught the necessity of good
works, declaring that the tree is known by its fruits. For this
reason He had been charged with exalting the last six com-
mandments above the first four."—The
Desire of Ages,
page
607.
What is the relation between God's love and man's
obedience?
THINK IT THROUGH
In what way does Christ's part in creation prove that
He possesses divine attributes? What are some of them?
John 1:1, 3, 14.
"The principles of righteousness em-
bodied in the Decalogue are as immu-
table as the eternal throne. Not one
command has been annulled, not a jot
or tittle has been changed. Those prin-
ciples that were made known to man
in Paradise as the great law of life will
exist unchanged in Paradise restored.
When Eden shall bloom on earth again,
God's law of love will be obeyed by all
beneath the sun."—"Thoughts From the
Mount of Blessing," pages 50, 51.
"The precepts of the Decalogue are
adapted to all mankind, and they were
given for the instruction and govern-
ment of all. Ten precepts, brief, com-
prehensive, and authoritive, cover the
duty of man to God and to his fellow
man; and all based upon the great
fundamental principle of love. . . .
Luke 10:27. See also Deuteronomy
6:4,
5; Leviticus 19:18. In the Ten Command-
ments these principles are carried out
in detail, and made applicable to the
condition and circumstances of man."
—"Patriarchs and Prophets," page 305.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: See "Redeeming Grace," H. W. Lowe, Chapters 2 and 6.
111
The Forgotten Blessing
LESSON 14
❑
Tuesday
September 26
Part 3
"His Son . . . by whom also he [God] made the
CREATION AND worlds."
RE-CREATION
"If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation."
2 Cor.5:17, RSV.
Heb. 1:2;
has been to reveal both creation and re-creation as beneficent
God's eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph. 3:11)
and redemptive acts.
How can man have the experience of conversion and the
new creation? By the grace of God in Christ we may put
off the corruption and deceitfulness of sin and thus find in
Him new spiritual hope and courage. Eph. 4:20-22.
"Not through controversy and discussion is the soul enlight-
ened. We must look and live. Nicodemus received the lesson,
and carried it with him. He searched the Scriptures in a new
way, not for the discussion of a theory, but in order to receive
life for the soul. He began to see the kingdom of heaven as he
submitted himself to the leading of the Holy Spirit."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 175.
Just as creation was a gift of God, so is the new creation. In
what way must man accept both God's creation and His re-
creation?
"Through faith we receive the grace of God; but faith is
not our Saviour. It earns nothing. It is the hand by which we
lay hold upon Christ, and appropriate His merits, the remedy
for sin. And we cannot even repent without the aid of the
Spirit of God. The Scripture says of Christ, 'Him hath God
exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for
to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.' Acts
5:31. Repentance comes from Christ as truly as does pardon."
—Ibid.
Does acceptance of Christ as our Redeemer necessitate
THINK IT THROUGH
recognition of Him as our Creator?
"The law given upon Sinai was the
enunciation of the principle of love, a
revelation to earth of the law of
heaven."—"Thoughts From the Mount of
Blessing," page 46.
"The daily evidence that we are a
living church is seen in the fact that we
are practicing the Word. A living testi-
mony goes forth to the world in consist-
ent Christian action."—Ellen G. White
Comments, "SDA Bible Commentary,"
Vol. 6, p. 1071.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages," pages 167-177.
112
The Forgotten Blessing
LESSON 14
❑
Wednesday
September 27
Part 4
"He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of
THE DIVINE the world, that we should be holy and without blame
FORETHOUGHT before him in love: having predestinated us unto the
Eph. 1:4, 5
adoption of children by Jesus Christ."
Various expressions are used in the New Testament to reveal
to us divine initiative and forethought in providing for the
salvation of man. This was to ensure that the world would
eventually be populated by holy beings. Titus 1:2 speaks of
the "hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised
before the world began." True acceptance of Christ and loyalty
to Him assure salvation.
The existence of Christ before the foundation of the world
(Eph. 1:4) is clearly seen in various Biblical passages. He was
the creator of all things. John 1:1-3, 10. "For by him were
all things created . . . : and he is before all things, and by
him all things consist." Col. 1:16, 17. This includes the Sab-
bath, for "the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day."
Matt. 12:8. It provides for all other things essential to the
welfare and full redemption of man.
THINK IT THROUGH
Is
it more logical to think that in the event of man's
fall, (1) his redemption would be accomplished by his
beneficent Creator, or that (2) man would in time work
his own way out of this tragic situation?
"I was shown that the law of God
would stand fast forever, and exist in
the new earth to all eternity. At the
creation, when the foundations of the
earth were laid, the sons of God looked
with admiration upon the work of the
Creator, and all the heavenly host
shouted for joy. It was then that the
foundation of the Sabbath was laid. At
the close of the six days of creation,
God rested on the seventh day from
all His work which He had made; and
He blessed the seventh day and sanc-
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "Patriarchs and Prophets," pages 63-65.
113
tified it, because that in it He had rested
from all His work. The Sabbath was
instituted in Eden before the fall, and
was observed by Adam and Eve, and
all the heavenly host. God rested on
the seventh day, and blessed and hal-
lowed it. I saw that the Sabbath never
will be done away; but that the re-
deemed saints, and all the angelic host,
will observe it in honor of the great
Creator to all eternity."—"Early Writ-
ings," page 217.
The Forgotten Blessing
LESSON 14
❑
Thursday
September 28
Part 5
"And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign
MARK OF THE between me and you, that ye may know that I am the
MAKER Lord your God."
Ezek. 20:20
Four things should be noted in Ezek. 20:5-12: (1) God's
choice of His people; (2) His deliverance of them from heathen
abomination and bondage; (3) His desire that His name should
not be polluted among the heathen, and (4) the laws He gave
to His people as peculiar signs of His presence with them.
In Ex. 31:15-17 the weekly Sabbath is given as one of the
marks of God's sovereignty over His people. According to
Neh. 9:14, one of the signs of God's presence with them was
His holy Sabbath. In 1 Cor. 10:1-4 His guidance and training
of them in the desert are attributed to Christ, who is thus
indicated as the Lord of both His people and His Sabbath. See
The Desire of Ages,
page 288.
THINK IT THROUGH
What is meant by the statement in Ex. 31:17 that the
Creator "rested, and was refreshed" on the seventh day?
Did He need physical rest?
"All was perfect, worthy of its divine Author, and He
rested, not as one weary, but as well pleased with the fruits
of His wisdom and goodness and the manifestations of His
glory."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 47.
Can we find "rest" in the fullest sense if God's bless-
ing is not with us?
What alone can make our obedience to God's com-
mandments acceptable in spirit and in truth? Would a
deeper acknowledgment of Christ as our Creator and
Sanctifier solve our problem of giving proper service to
Him?
"The Israelites placed over their
of the Hebrew dwellings, to preserve
doors a signature of blood, to show
the people from the general ruin. God
that they were God's property. So the declares, 'I gave them my Sabbaths,
children of God in this age will bear
to be a sign between me and them,
the signature God has appointed. They
that they might know that I am the
will place themselves in harmony with
Lord that sanctify them.'"—Ellen G.
God's holy law. A mark is placed upon White Comments, "SDA Bible Commen-
every one of God's people just as verily
tary," Vol. 7, pp. 968, 969.
as a mark was placed over the doors
FOR FURTHER STUDY: "The Desire of Ages," pages 286-288.
114
The Forgotten Blessing
LESSON 14
❑
Friday
September
29
Part 6
EVIDENCE OF THE
SAVIOUR'S
PRESENCE
Lev. 21:23
THINK IT THROUGH
"For I the Lord do sanctify them."
This expression is often used in the Old Testament, and
we have seen in Ezek. 20:12 that it is connected with Sabbath
observance.
From the lessons of this quarter, what have we learned as
the paramount thing in all religious observances?
"No other institution which was committed to the Jews
tended so fully to distinguish them from surrounding nations
as did the Sabbath. God designed that its observance should
designate them as His worshipers. It was to be a token of
their separation from idolatry, and their connection with the
true God. But in order to keep the Sabbath holy, men must
themselves be holy. Through faith they must become partakers
of the righteousness of Christ."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 283.
Does history show that the observance of Sunday, the day
substituted for the seventh day, has declined into formalism?
Was it ever anything else?
Does formal observance of a day inhibit the vital
experience of Christ's righteousness by faith? Ex. 31:13.
Should Seventh-day Adventists constantly seek Christ in
daily experience in order to witness effectively for truth, espe-
cially the Sabbath truth? "God's remnant people, standing
before the world as reformers, are to show that the law of
God is the foundation of all enduring reform and that the
Sabbath of the fourth commandment is to stand as a memo-
rial of creation, a constant reminder of the power of God.
. . . Constrained by the love of Christ, they are to cooperate
with Him in building up the waste places. They are to be
repairers of the breach, restorers of paths to dwell
in."—Proph-
ets and Kings,
page 678.
Do we show God's love by obvious, aggressive effort,
or by constancy to Him under all circumstances? See
1 John 5:3. (Moffatt's translation says that "his commands
are not irksome.")
"The Sabbath is a sign of Christ's
power to make us holy. And it is given
to all whom Christ makes holy. As a
sign of His sanctifying power, the Sab-
bath is given to all who through Christ
become a part of the Israel of God....
"To all who receive the Sabbath as a
sign of Christ's creative and redeeming
power, it will be a delight. Seeing
Christ in it, they delight themselves in
Him."—"The Desire of Ages," pages
288, 289.
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
"Testimonies," Vol. 6, p. 350.
115
The Forgotten Blessing
LESSON 14
Part 7 <> SUMMARY QUESTIONS <>
A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER
1. True or False: The entrance of sin posed the following situations:
a.
Man must find a way to get back what he had lost
b.
God sought a good angel to save this world
c.
Only the Creator could become man's Redeemer
2. Multiple choice:
a.
Is law more important, equally important, or less so than love)
b.
If we love, can we ignore obedience)
c.
Which comes first: love or obedience?
3. Multiple choice: Does the new birth mean
a.
new manners? b. new cul-
ture?
c.
an entirely new Christian way of life)
4. Was the Creator caught unawares by sin, or had He provided for such a
contingency, and, if so, how)
5. What mark of our Maker have these lessons indicated)
6.
Multiple choice: Real evidence of Christ's presence in us is seen in
a.
sin-
cerity;
b.
love;
c.
an ascetic life and strict observances of God's laws
7.
What is the best answer to the charge of legalism)
8.
Do you think the charge of being self-centered legalists is sometimes
justified>
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116
"In God's word we behold the power that laid the
foundation of the earth and that stretched out
the heavens.... In the reverent contemplation of
the truths presented in His word, the mind of
the student is brought into communion with the
infinite mind. Such a study will not only refine
and ennoble the character, but it cannot fail
to expand and invigorate the mental powers."
—Patriarchs and Prophets, p.596.
Cfurisi %moor
ephorani Iaeenn
SIGN THE
DAILY
LESSON
STUDY
PLEDGE
Not all love letters are meant to be tied up in a
pink bow and tucked away in the attic. Some love
letters should be kept near and read often. Not all
of them say the things we want them to say. Be-
cause, sometimes, when we truly love people, we
have to say things that hurt in order to help.
Ellen White understood love. She wrote many let-
ters. Some of them hurt very much. But they were
all written in a true spirit of love and were de-
signed to help us. Ellen White's love letters are the
kind that should be kept near. And read often.
•
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'necks* ines
$31.50 for the 9 volume set in deluxe binding,
$26.50 for cloth binding.
Available at your local Bible House.
Please include 75 cents per set for mailing;
add tax where applicable.
dd
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THE SABBATH
gs ift beim s
YOU
THIS DAY IS YOURS
reflects on the
spiritual beauty of the Sabbath. The
Biblical background, the Jewish Sab-
bath traditions, and the change from
Sabbath to Sunday are related in de-
tail, yet in a clear and simple style.
The second part of THIS DAY IS
YOURS tells how God planned for
man to enjoy the Sabbath. One of the
author's key thoughts is this: "God
intended that you and He get to know
each other. . . . On the Sabbath He
wants you for Himself." Hardback,
white and gold cover, $4.95.
"The sabbath was made for man."
Mark 2:27. God designed it with
you in mind. It is just one of His
many gifts.
Kenneth Holland, editor of
These
Times,
has written these two books
for you, so you can love and enjoy
the Sabbath more than you ever have
before.
THOSE SABBATH HOURS
is a col-
lection of stories and articles that will
make happier Sabbaths for the entire
family. The poems and illustrations
will give variety to your family wor-
ships. Hardback, white and gold
cover, $6.95.
SOUTHERN PUBLIS NG ASSOCIATION
No. Church S.S.
Population Churches Memb. Memb.
Burma
28,518,000
Central India 152,552,807
Ceylon
14,000,000
Northern
313,266,899
Pakistan
128,346,000
South India
92,922,239
5,185
15,245
1,518
8,411
4,181
22,846